Take care of your employees and they'll take care of your company.

• Author: Francom, Sarah Ryther
• Position: Editorial

For many throughout Utah, 2009 has not been a blissful year. The past 11 months have included a collage of stressful events, ranging from H1N1 scares to the nation's major economic woes.

Though Utah felt the recession much slower than the rest of the nation, there's no denying that we're in the middle of it now. During the past year, just about every industry across the state experienced hardships, many of which resulted in employee layoffs. Today, the state's unemployment rate has reached 6.5 percent and the rate is expected to climb even higher during the next few months.

While many companies are hunkering down, some companies are viewing today's downturn as an opportunity to prepare for the economic rebound. Part of preparing, for some companies, has meant strengthening their employee base by letting weak employees go and snatching up high-skilled employees. While today's worker surplus has been good for employers seeking the best talent, it has also been a double-edged sword. How so? The worker surplus has made it easier for employers to take their current employees for granted.

In this issue of Utah Business, we celebrate 16 companies that, despite hard times, have remained devoted to their employees. These "Best Companies to Work For" keep their employees working happily day after day--a feat not easily accomplished. Though the majority of the honored companies offer their employees unique perks, such as educational opportunities, flexible schedules and other benefits, surveyed employees stated that the reason they love their job is because they feel...