World Wide Technology has joined three other St. Louis companies -- Edward Jones, Scottrade and Build-A-Bear Workshop -- on Fortune magazine's list of America's best places to work.
Edward Jones moved up to fifth place, from 11th last year, and said this is the 13th time it has been included in the Fortune rankings. The brokerage firm said it will treat employees to a free lunch today.
Scottrade slipped to 31st place this year, from 12th last year, and Build-A-Bear fell to 62nd from 48th. World Wide Technology, which didn't make last year's list, placed 50th.
The magazine selected Google as the nation's most worker-friendly company, citing the free cafes, bocce courts and bowling alley in its Googleplex headquarters.
Here's what Fortune found praiseworthy about the St. Louis employers:
- Edward Jones "escaped the recession with nary a layoff."
- Scottrade employees "can get 5% interest on their checking accounts if they use the company's newly launched bank."
- World Wide Technology doubled its profit-sharing payments after a strong year in 2010.
- Build-A-Bear workers "get solid health insurance and 401(k) plans and help kids make stuffed animals. No wonder turnover is half the industry average."
Read more from David Nicklaus, who is the business columnist for the Post-Dispatch. On Twitter, follow him @dnickbiz and the Business section @postdispatchbiz.
