Best Places to Work 2007: Best Buy Inc.

Tonya Peak believes Best Buy is a best place to work: The seven-year employee recently returned from a cruise she won for her department’s performance during a back-to-school contest.

“We’re getting ready to start another contest during the holiday season, because that’s a big time of year for us,” said Peak, a media supervisor. “This one is a trip to Orlando.”

Best Buy’s benefits and efforts at the local level to make employees feel valued attracts and keeps people, Peak said. She also acts as community liaison and runs a committee that seeks employee feedback.

In addition to contests, Minnesota-based Best Buy gives out other awards, including stock options, which employees also can purchase at a discounted price.

“It’s great (that) you can win stock options,” she said. “It makes you want to not leave the company. It helps with retention.”

Employees may participate in the retirement plan after six months. Entry-level, full-time employees are given six to 10 vacation days, two personal days, and five to six sick days. Domestic-partner benefits are offered.

New employees are reviewed after 90 days. If they meet expectations, they receive a 3 percent raise, Peak said. Employees are then reviewed annually, and, depending on where they fall on a performance scale, their raise is between 4 percent to 6 percent.

Tuition reimbursement up to $3,500 per calendar year is available for undergraduate classes, Peak said. Employees may receive tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for graduate work, but it must be applicable to working for Best Buy, she said.

Quarterly meetings keep employees up to date on the company, and event-specific training takes place about six times a year, Peak said.

The Learning Center, an online training site, educates employees as needed, such as when Microsoft’s Vista was released. More than 90 percent of managerial roles are filled from within. “I actually started out full time as a cashier and worked my way up,” Peak said. Employees give input on managerial performance every six months. Through the in-store committee Peak runs, employees offer suggestions about work conditions, some of which are simple ideas, such as adding a water fountain by the employee lounge.

Off-site gatherings, where employees bowl, play flag football or enjoy a picnic, are common, Peak said.

“We work … on making it a fun place to work as well as taking care of our customers,” Peak said.

Best Buy Inc.

Founded: 1966

Address: 3450 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO 65804

Phone: (417) 886-5118

Web: www.bestbuy.com

Employees: 150

Services: Retail electronics sales and service[[In-content Ad]]