Random House: The Best Book Publishing Company to Work For
There’s no randomness to the world’s largest trade book publishing company’s high marks for professional and personal employee support.
October 2007 By James Sturdivant
If a formula exists for creating a great work environment, Random House Inc. seems to have found it.
The world’s largest trade book publisher has created a structure that strikes a balance between employee support and autonomy, overall corporate vision and individual contributions. Along with a strong ethos of promoting wellness and a healthy work-life balance, the company has, according to its employees, managed to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and collective responsibility—no mean feat for a book publishing group with a combined workforce of more than 3,000 supporting the publishing efforts of more than 120 separate U.S. imprints.
Fostering a great work environment is, without a doubt, something Random House Chairman and CEO Peter Olson takes seriously—even when he’s dressed up in a bunny suit (don’t worry, more on this later).
“We know we perform best as a company if our employees feel motivated, happy and committed,” notes Edward Volini, deputy chairman and COO of Random House. “We particularly believe that people are more content and more effective at work if they are able to achieve a healthy balance between time spent at work and time spent outside the office.”
Employees benefit right off the bat from a generous vacation policy (new hires receive four weeks of vacation after their first year), with vacation time hitting six weeks after 25 years with the company. Random House’s well-known sabbatical program offers all employees paid time off to pursue personal interests—four, five, six and seven consecutive weeks after 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of service, respectively.
“Knowing the huge demands made upon all of us by our daily workload, Random House actively encourages us to take real vacations regularly,” says Andrew Van Der Laan, director, production planning, “and the sabbatical program offers an extended period for personal renewal and enrichment.”
As would be expected, the company offers a good “classical” benefits program with extensive health coverage and retirement options, including a generous 401(k) match.
To encourage fitness, the company sponsors yoga and Pilates classes, and reimburses workers who join a fitness center or purchase health-related equipment, says Hays Steilberg, vice president and director of human resources. Employees can take advantage of in-house screenings for high cholesterol, hypertension and other conditions, a health risk-assessment program and an on-site health center staffed by a company nurse.
The world’s largest trade book publisher has created a structure that strikes a balance between employee support and autonomy, overall corporate vision and individual contributions. Along with a strong ethos of promoting wellness and a healthy work-life balance, the company has, according to its employees, managed to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and collective responsibility—no mean feat for a book publishing group with a combined workforce of more than 3,000 supporting the publishing efforts of more than 120 separate U.S. imprints.
Fostering a great work environment is, without a doubt, something Random House Chairman and CEO Peter Olson takes seriously—even when he’s dressed up in a bunny suit (don’t worry, more on this later).
“We know we perform best as a company if our employees feel motivated, happy and committed,” notes Edward Volini, deputy chairman and COO of Random House. “We particularly believe that people are more content and more effective at work if they are able to achieve a healthy balance between time spent at work and time spent outside the office.”
Employees benefit right off the bat from a generous vacation policy (new hires receive four weeks of vacation after their first year), with vacation time hitting six weeks after 25 years with the company. Random House’s well-known sabbatical program offers all employees paid time off to pursue personal interests—four, five, six and seven consecutive weeks after 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of service, respectively.
“Knowing the huge demands made upon all of us by our daily workload, Random House actively encourages us to take real vacations regularly,” says Andrew Van Der Laan, director, production planning, “and the sabbatical program offers an extended period for personal renewal and enrichment.”
As would be expected, the company offers a good “classical” benefits program with extensive health coverage and retirement options, including a generous 401(k) match.
To encourage fitness, the company sponsors yoga and Pilates classes, and reimburses workers who join a fitness center or purchase health-related equipment, says Hays Steilberg, vice president and director of human resources. Employees can take advantage of in-house screenings for high cholesterol, hypertension and other conditions, a health risk-assessment program and an on-site health center staffed by a company nurse.
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