The Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For
The "Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For" list is Book Business' annual ranking of companies that seem to embody the philosophy that a company's employees are the key to its success. But being a great company isn't just about offering a great benefits package (though that certainly helps). The companies that made the list this year create environments where employees are valued and respected professionally, but they also work to help enhance employees' personal lives. Whether it's through back-up childcare services, fitness centers, sabbatical programs or super-flex flex time, these companies go the extra mile to keep their employees happy—and it shows.
Here's Book Business' look at what makes these companies such great places to work.
1. Hachette Book Group (HBG)
www.HachetteBookGroup.com
U.S. Headquarters: New York, NY
Chairman and CEO: David Young
HBG publishes approximately 650 titles/year, including adult, illustrated, religious, children's and audio books. HBG also provides distribution and sales services for numerous clients.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 108
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 14%
- Bonus or incentive program for all full-time employees: Yes
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/No
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer contribution: 3%
- Employer match: 67%
- Maximum match: 6%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 10
- Personal time off (PTO) includes: vacation, sick and personal time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 15
- Maximum # of vacation days: 25
- Sick days: unlimited (all locations except Indiana)
- Personal days: 2
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Part of Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) program; allows employees to work from home one or more days per week, as needed.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes/free
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes/certain locations
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes
Other benefits:
- Adoption assistance
- Domestic partner benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- "Summer hours" schedule (early close on Fridays)
- The office typically closes for a week at year-end (between Christmas and New Year's)
Why HBG thinks it's a great place to work:
"We publish great books well, enjoy a long record of growth and success, and provide a supportive work environment in which employees can learn, be creative, find balance and have fun!"
2. Chronicle Books
www.ChronicleBooks.com
U.S. Headquarters:
San Francisco, Calif.
CEO: Nion McEvoy
Chronicle Books is a publisher of books and other ancillary products, such as journals, kits and other gift products.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 31
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: N/A
- Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes. Profit-sharing and a discretionary pool
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/Yes
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer contribution: 0%
- Employer match: 100%
- Maximum match: 4%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 8
- PTO includes: vacation, sick and personal time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 15
- Maximum # of vacation days: 20
- Sick days: 10
- Personal days: 1
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Telecommuting options vary by position.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes. Indoor bike racks, showers
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes. Yoga and Pilates 4 days/week
Other benefits:
- Free, fresh organic fruit and oatmeal offered daily
- Domestic partner benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid time off for community service
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Flexible work schedules
- 6 weeks of paid family leave after three years of service
- New-employee mixers each quarter
- Free quarterly massages
Why Chronicle thinks it's a great place to work:
"Chronicle Books possesses a sense of community that drives every aspect of our organization. Through collaboration and communication, we work together to create exceptional publishing and an even more exceptional team."
3. Georgetown University Press (GUP)
www.Press.Georgetown.edu
U.S. Headquarters:
Washington, D.C.
Director: Richard Brown, PhD
GUP publishes peer-reviewed scholarly books and journals and electronic resources in a variety of disciplines, for the classroom and trade markets. It publishes 40 new titles/year and has a backlist of 650 titles.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 2
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 0%
- Bonus or incentive program for all full-time employees: Yes
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/No
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer contribution/match: 5% of gross pay, plus another 5% when employee contributes 3% of own salary
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 14
- PTO includes: one bank of time for personal, sick and vacation
- PTO available after 1 year of employment: 19
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Acquisitions editors can work from home occasionally.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes
- Employee Assistance Program: No
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes. Free access to Georgetown University fitness facilities and activities
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes
Other benefits:
- Domestic partner benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Childcare facility (paid)
- Flexible hours for childcare issues
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Fiscal year-end company celebration and outing
- Annual day-long Halloween/costume party and lunch
- End-of-summer paid "floating" holiday
Why GUP thinks it's a great place to work:
"GUP emphasizes three key indicators of success: financial performance; the impact of our books and journals, and electronic resources; and progress toward establishing a culture of camaraderie, professional development and meaningful employment."
4. Prestwick House Inc.
www.PrestwickHouse.com
U.S. Headquarters: Smyrna, Del.
President and CEO: James Scott
Prestwick House is an educational publisher dedicated to helping teachers of all levels of English and language arts be the absolute best they can be. It has 2,500+ books in print and customers in every U.S. state and territory.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 4
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 3%
- Bonus or incentive program for all full-time employees: Yes
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/No
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer contribution/match: 3%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 13
- PTO includes: one bank of time for personal, sick and vacation
- PTO available after 1 year of employment: 9
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Several staff members are able to access e-mail from home and work on projects there as necessary.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: No
- Employee Assistance Program: No
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes. Gym and locker/shower facilities
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes
Other benefits:
- Continental breakfast provided daily in company "café," where fresh flowers adorn tables, and a sofa and reading materials are provided
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid time off for community service
- $1,500 annual training/certificate allowance
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Flexible work schedule to accommodate family obligations
- Summer family picnic and holiday party for staff and their families
Why Prestwick House thinks it's a great place to work:
"The friendly and family-like atmosphere inspires proficiency and teamwork. Prestwick House truly appreciates their employees and does everything possible to acknowledge the hard work they do."
5. F.A. Davis Company (FAD)
www.FADavis.com
U.S. Headquarters:
Philadelphia, Pa.
President: Robert H. Craven, Jr.
F.A. Davis Company is a health science publisher that markets to both the student and clinician.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 17
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 7%
- Bonus or incentive program for all full-time employees: No
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/Yes
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer match: 100% on the first $3, then 50% on the 4th and 5th dollars.
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 10
- PTO includes: vacation, sick and personal time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 10
- Maximum # of vacation days: 20
- Sick days: 7
- Personal days: 2
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Salaried employees can work from home one day per week with management approval.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: No
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: No
Other benefits:
- Adoption assistance
- Domestic partner benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Half-day Fridays, April-October
- Gifts, e.g., fully paid vacations, given to employees for 15+ years of service
- Long-standing practice of accommodating employees with special, temporary scheduling needs
Why F.A. Davis Company thinks it's a great place to work:
"FAD offers a friendly culture, great colleagues, interesting work, good pay, great benefits, an opportunity to make an impact and more!"
6. John Wiley Sons Inc.
www.Wiley.com
U.S. Headquarters:
Hoboken, N.J.
President and CEO: William J. Pesce
Wiley's professional/trade business produces books, subscription content and information services, including the "For Dummies," "Frommer's," and "CliffsNotes" brands. Wiley-Blackwell serves the world's research and scholarly communities. Its higher education business includes online teaching tool WileyPlus.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 364
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 11%
- Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: Yes/No
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer match: 63%
- Maximum match: 6%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 12
- PTO includes: vacation, sick and personal time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 14
- Maximum # of vacation days: 25
- Sick days: 8
- Personal days: 3
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Full-time colleagues may work at home or at a satellite location.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes. On-site fitness rooms, with lockers and showers; bicycle storage
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes
Other benefits:
- Subsidizes partial cost of the cafeteria at the corporate headquarters
- Flexible work hours
- Adoption assistance
- Domestic partner benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Annual President's Award given with a paid vacation (with guest) for extraordinary achievements/performance
- Private lactation rooms for new mothers
- Paid time off for community service
- On-site Weight Watchers program
Why Wiley thinks it's a great place to work:
"Colleagues describe Wiley as ‘the place to be.' Not just a slogan, this phrase captures Wiley's spirit. We're not ‘employees,' we're ‘colleagues,' who are human beings first, professionals second."
7. BarCharts Inc.
www.BarCharts.com
U.S. Headquarters: Boca Raton, Fla.
President: Roy Gabbard
BarCharts, founded in 1991, is a publisher of quick-reference laminated guides, booklets, flash cards, and an Anatomy Atlas. It is a family-owned business.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 2
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 5%
- Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/No
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer match: 50%
- Maximum match: 15%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 8
- PTO includes: vacation and sick time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 10
- Maximum # of vacation days: 20 (plus 1 extra week in the 10th year)
- Sick/personal days: 9
Telecommuting/flex time: No
- Option to work compressed work weeks: No
- Employee Assistance Program: No
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: No
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: No
Other benefits:
- Full tuition reimbursement
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Office closed for the week between Christmas and New Year's (paid time off in addition to PTO)
- Free bagels every other Friday
- Adjustable schedules to accommodate family functions/commitments
Why BarCharts thinks it's a great place to work:
"Our unique product and unique culture make this a great place to work. Additionally, the benefits we offer make this a great place to work."
8. Human Kinetics
www.HumanKinetics.com
U.S. Headquarters:
Champaign, Ill.
President: Rainer Martens
Human Kinetics produces informational and educational products in physical activity, health and sports, including consumer books and DVDs, college textbooks and ancillary products, K-12 resources, professional and scholarly journals, online courses, software and audio-visual products.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 44
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 4%
- Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: Yes/Yes
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer match: 0%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 8
- PTO includes: vacation and sick time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 12
- Maximum # of vacation days: 25
- Sick days: 5
Telecommuting/flex time:
Highlights: Reviewed on case-by-case basis; eligible after 1 year of employment.
- Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes (4 times/year)
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes/informal
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes. Half-price classes
Other benefits:
- Partially subsidized on-site cafeteria (breakfast/lunch, open to employees' families and guests); biweekly, employees can order meals to take home
- Adoption assistance
- Domestic partner benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Adjustable schedules to attend family/ personal events
- Organized social functions
- Annual Halloween/costume party
- Monetary gifts (from $100 to $2,500) award years of service
- Intranet referral service to help staff find anything from baby-sitters to painters
Why Human Kinetics thinks it's a great place to work:
"Human Kinetics ... blends the type of work one does with who one is, resulting in professional and personal fulfillment and a great sense of ownership."
9. Random House Inc.
www.RandomHouse.com
U.S. Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
Chairman and CEO: Markus Dohle
Random House is the world's largest adult and children's trade book publisher. It has 120+ imprints in the United States and Canada, which publish books in a variety of formats.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 415
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: N/A
- Bonus or incentive program for all employees: No
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/Yes
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer match: 100%
- Maximum match: 6%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 14
- PTO includes: vacation, personal and sick time
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 20
- Maximum # of vacation days: N/A
- Sick days: 10
- Personal days: 4
Telecommuting/flex time: No
- Option to work compressed work weeks: No
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes. Fitness classes, health seminars
Other benefits:
- Dependent Care FSA (100% match; max. $2,500)
- Back-up childcare; $15/use (center-based); $4/hour (home-based)
- Company-subsidized cafeteria
- Adoption assistance, with parental leave
- Domestic (same-sex) partner benefits
- In-house skill-development seminars
- Sabbatical program
- Voluntary auto, homeowners' and pet insurance, group legal coverage
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Annual fitness/wellness reimbursement
- Free online tutoring services for children
- Closed from Christmas to New Year's
- Half-day Fridays in the summer
Why Random House thinks it's a great place to work:
"Random House's commitment to its employees, its incomparable benefits, and the creativity and dedication of its employees, and its focus on social responsibility, make RH a great place to work."
10. Independent Publishers Group/Chicago Review Press
www.IPGBook.com,
www.ChicagoReviewPress.com
U.S. Headquarters: Chicago, Ill.
CEO: Curt Matthews
Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is a book distributor for independent publishers worldwide. Chicago Review Press publishes titles in nonfiction, children's activities, political and others, under four imprints: Chicago Review Press, Lawrence Hill Books, A Cappella and Zephyr Press.
Overview:
- Number of new hires*: 22
- Rate of voluntary turnover*: 7%
- Bonus or incentive program for all employees: No
- Employee Stock Option/Profit-Sharing Program: No/Yes
401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:
- Employer match:100%
- Maximum match: 4%
PTO time:
- Paid holidays/year: 9
- PTO includes: vacation and personal
- Vacation days available after 1 year of employment: 15
- Maximum # of vacation days: 30
- Personal days: 7
Telecommuting/flex time: No
- Option to work compressed work weeks: No
- Employee Assistance Program: Yes
- On-site exercise and fitness facilities: No
- On-site fitness/wellness programs: No
Other benefits:
- Domestic partner benefits
- Flexible scheduling for accommodating childcare needs
- Annual holiday party for employees and their families
Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:
- Reading room outside the kitchen
- Developing a wellness program
Why IPG thinks it's a great place to work:
"IPG is an employer that cares, and the employees are intelligent, hardworking and articulate. There is a sense of loyalty and trust here that isn't easy to come by in today's turbulent times."