Looking for a new job in 2009? Forbes has released their list of the
100 Best Companies to Work For. Forbes look at things like pay, flexibility, benefits, and culture when determining this list.

While it would probably be fabulous to work at a company on this list, I think there’s something else we can learn from it. For example, look to see if a company on this list is a competitor of your current company. See what kind of pay and benefits they offer. Check out the flexibility and “soft” benefits they offer. Then see if your own organization can match it. Or come close. Sometimes organizations need to know what their competitors offer in order to stay current.

At the very least, a list such as this can tell you what’s out there at other organizations. It gives an idea of what’s being offered, so if you’re interviewing or changing jobs, you can perhaps negotiate for better hours, increased flexibility, or longer vacation time.

How was your Thanksgiving this year?  Were you one of the lucky ones that received a turkey or other form of bonus from your company?

I used to get a ham at Christmas from one of the companies I worked for, and it really was a lovely gesture.  I was happy they had done something out of the ordinary to recognize all our hard work.

But I caught a story this weekend about a company that REALLY went out of the way to honor their employees.  The Spungen family from Peer Bearing Co. in Illinois gave each employee a turkey, and a whole lot of money.  “They gave away $6.6 million in year-end bonuses to Peer’s 230 employees, decided by a formula based on each worker’s years of service.”

Many employees received $10,000 and more as their bonus.  One employee, Dave Tiderman, received $35,000.  He said, “I know people who work for corporate America are not going to get treated like that. And most of the family-owned businesses are not going to treat you like that. This is something that just really doesn’t happen.”

Very true.  But wouldn’t that be nice?