Approximately 95% of the emails which the Breeze receives are junk. It is rare when the contents of an email prove to be an item of general interest to Breeze readers and is also news which has not been or will not be widely circulated by other media. I recently received such an email.
The subject line read: Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia Named West Virginia’s Most Coveted Employer, Survey Finds. Toyota Motor Manufacturing means Buffalo, West Virginia. That Toyota should be the most desirable employer in the entire State of West Virginia is noteworthy. WVU Medicine was named second most coveted.
The email directed me to an article posted at https://careerminds.com/blog/retention-revolution. The article stated that money is a draw, but it is not the only thing that makes an employer stand out. Benefits like stellar health insurance, paid time off, or even quirky extras like free snacks can be just as important.
Careerminds, a global outplacement and career development firm, polled 3,023 workers in the U.S. to determine what it takes to be a top rated employer. Toyota was No. 1 in West Virginia because “Toyota in Buffalo offers 16 paid holidays-including weeks in July and at Christmas -strong healthcare, vehicle discounts, and paid technical training through local college partnerships. Since arriving 25 years ago, Toyota has stood out in West Virginia with stable, well-paid jobs and ‘amazing benefits.’ Its investment in skill development creates career pathways, matching perks at global plants and fostering a supportive environment that elevates the region’s workforce.”
Careerminds said WVU Medicine in Morgantown provides up to $3,000 yearly tuition reimbursement for nursing, discounted WVU tuition for dependents based on service, ample PTO, and affordable health insurance via its network. As West Virginia’s largest employer, it stands out by growing in-state talent to combat shortages. This life-changing support retains dedicated healthcare workers, offering pathways for advancement and family education in a state where college costs can loom large.
Careerminds listed Google – California as #1, nationally, and Coca-Cola – Georgia as #2. Google’s and Coca-Cola’s ratings are not surprising. They are very well-known brands. I was surprised, however, to discover that the top employer in Ohio was The J.M. Smucker Company. Who would have guessed that?
I was stunned to learn that L.L. Bean was the top rated employer in the State of Maine. I was stunned because my first home was Freeport, Maine, the home of L.L. Bean. My grandfather, Leonard W. Allen, worked with L.L. Bean (the person and shoemaker) before he developed his famous boot. I was born in Freeport less than 200 yards from Bean’s original factory.
Perhaps I should not have been surprised because I knew that the company offers amazing discounts to their employees through a number of my Maine relatives who have boasted of benefits received when employed at L.L. Bean. The L.L. Bean Inc. of today is massive and does not resemble the L.L. Bean Inc. that I knew growing up in Freeport. When I attended Freeport schools, the only visible presence of the company was a sign on Main Street directing visitors to an alley leading to a second-story showroom. The largest employers in Maine during that time were the pulp and paper mills and Bath Iron Works.
My memories of Freeport rival memories held by Buffalo residents who have witnessed Toyota Motor Manufacturing emerge from a sprawling corn field.
