Best companies to work for regence bcbsu; sunshine terrace gastronomy.

• Author: Blodgett, John
• Position: Onthecover - Cover Story

SMART companies know that worker benefits offer just as much benefit to the employer as they do the employee. This was shown by authors Richard Hadden and Bill Catlette, who in their book Contented Cows Give Better Milk wrote that companies known to be "a great place to work" outperformed their competition in revenue growth by more than 50 percent, and earned more than $70 billion more in net income.

The mix of benefits that can have such an effect on the bottom line varies. Some are traditional, such as 401(k) plans and employer-subsidized health insurance coverage, but more and more non-traditional benefits that reflect a company's personality or a region's demographics are being offered. In Utah, for example, there is a strong focus on family life as well as the balance between work and play. And corporate philosophy is no less important.

Utah Business has chosen the following seven employers as examples of companies who understand the value of maintaining high employee morale by just being an all-around great place to work.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah (Regence BCBSU) provides for the health and well-being of its employees--and their families--as much as it does for its clients.

"We have an on-site fitness facility with a fitness instructor who provides custom workout routines," says spokesperson Kevin Bischoff. Employees pay just $8 a month for use of both the facilities and trainer, he says, and their fitness options don't stop at the gym. "Our cafeteria has a complete salad bar and deli that offers low-fat alternatives to fried foods. [Plus] each employee receives a chart every year so they can catalog the number of servings of fruits and vegetables they have every day."

Employees receive a 35 percent discount on all food items, and the cafeteria is located right next door to the Caring for Kids day care center, allowing working parents a chance to share lunch with their children and get a 30 percent discount on day care facilities (both the cafeteria and day care are open to the public and are often used by other employees located in the Cottonwood Corporate Center). Prices are determined by age of the child and whether they are in day care full time. A "cottage worker" program allows stay-at-home parents and other employees a chance to work remotely as claims processors; almost 10 percent of the workforce takes advantage of this opportunity to work a flexible schedule defined by the individual.

Regence BCBSU has long been recognized for its focus on the family, winning for four consecutive years the Work/Life award from the Utah State Department of Work Force Services, identifying Regence as one of the state's top 10 family-friendly companies.

Redmond Minerals

With offices in Redmond and Springville, Redmond Minerals is best known for RealSalt, mined near Redmond and touted by the company as an "all natural, gourmet sea salt." Other products include agricultural salt, clays and de-icing products. According to marketing director Rusty Anderson, Redmond Minerals is a peculiar place to work. He says this with sincere appreciation.

"The culture of Redmond is worth a lot in today's dog-eat-dog world," he says. "Redmond Minerals' values are consistent with my own." Such values include the importance of bettering employees' lives through...