The Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For

How the Best Companies Were Selected

The “Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For” is a project conducted by Book Business in conjunction with the Best Companies Group, an independent research firm that specializes in finding and recognizing great places to work. The study was free and open to all public and privately held organizations, either for-profit or nonprofit. To be eligible, companies had to be book publishing companies that have been in business for at least one year and are based in the United States, with a minimum of 15 employees.

The Best Companies Group managed the online-registration process, conducted the surveys, evaluated the data and determined the final list of companies. Part one of the assessment (75 percent of each company’s score) involved a confidential, 66-question employee-satisfaction survey, where employees’ are asked to rate their workplace experience and company culture. Part two (25 percent of the score) included an employer questionnaire about each company’s benefits, corporate policies and other information.

Each participating company received a free report highlighting data points that reflect the employees’ experience at their workplace in eight categories of engagement: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training and Development, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Engagement.

To participate in the “2010 Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For,” go to BestBookCompanies.com, where you can also find more information about the study and view sample questionnaires.

The “Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For” list is Book Business’ annual ranking of companies that embody the philosophy that a company’s employees are the key to its success, and that employee happiness translates to a more motivated, productive workplace. Many companies on the list show that being a great company isn’t just about offering an attractive benefits package (though that certainly helps). The companies that made this year’s list create environments where employees are valued and respected professionally, and they also work to help enhance employees’ personal lives. Whether it’s through profit sharing, ample paid time off, telecommuting options, childcare services, fitness facilities, adoption assistance or pet-friendly policies, these companies go the extra mile to keep their employees happy—and it shows.

What Makes the 'Best Companies' So Great?

1. F.A. Davis Co.
FADavis.com
U.S. Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pa.
President: Robert H. Craven Jr.

F.A. Davis is a health science publisher that markets to both students and clinicians.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 21
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 5.5%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: No
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/Yes (discretionary contributions based on percentage of salary; 8.5% in 2007 and 4% in 2008)

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 100% of first 3% of employee’s contribution; 50% of 4th and 5th percent.

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 10
Personal time off (PTO) includes: Vacation, sick, personal
Vacation days available after 1 year: 10-15, based on employment level
Maximum no. of vacation days: 20
Sick days: 7
Personal days: 2

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Exempt employees may work from home one day per week with
managerial approval or three days per week with presidential approval.
Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes
Employee assistance program: Yes
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: No
On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes

Other benefits:

Up to $6,000 per year in adoption assistance.
Up to $4,000 per year in tuition reimbursement.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Volunteer committee organizes support for charities.

Why F.A. Davis thinks it’s a great place to work:
“F.A. Davis offers employees interesting work for competitive pay and great benefits, and a respectful, friendly work environment. We’re motivated to perform well, but we value more than the bottom line, and it shows in the way we do business every day.”

2. Hachette Book Group (HBG)
HachetteBookGroup.com
U.S. Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
Chairman and CEO: David Young

HBG is a major U.S. trade publisher and a division of Hachette Livre, the second-largest publisher in the world. It publishes under the divisions of Little, Brown and Co., Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Grand Central Publishing, FaithWords, Center Street, Orbit and Hachette Digital. HBG also provides distribution and sales services.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 233
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 11%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/No

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer contribution: 3%
Employer match: 67%
Maximum match: 6%

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 9
PTO includes: Vacation, sick, personal
Vacation days available after 1 year: 15
Maximum no. of vacation days: 25 (after 10 years)
Sick days: Unlimited
Personal days: 2

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Employees can work from home one or more days/week.
Option to work compressed work weeks: No
Employee assistance program: Yes
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes
On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes

Other benefits:

Adoption assistance.
Tuition reimbursement (100% for job-related courses; 50% for others).
Employee contribution to health coverage is based on a set percentage of salary.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Up to 10 days of free, back-up childcare.
Pool and ping-pong tournaments; softball teams in Boston and New York.

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!”

3. C&T Publishing
CTPub.com
U.S. Headquarters: Concord, Calif.
CEO: Todd Hensley

Since its founding in 1983, C&T Publishing has been a leading publisher of books and other products to the quilting, paper craft and fiber art markets internationally.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 5
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 1%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/No

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 25% of the first 6% of employee’s contribution, up to 1.5% of wages.

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 10
PTO includes: Vacation, sick
Vacation days available after 1 year: 10
Maximum no. of vacation days: 15
Sick days: 8

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Telecommuting options are based on employees’ job responsibilities.
Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes, dependent upon position.
Employee assistance program: Yes
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: No
On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes

Other benefits:

Allows paid time off for coursework related to professional development.
County-certified “green” business; maintains many “green” policies and practices.
Solar power is planned for 2010.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Encourages walking groups and regular breaks.
Provides ergonomic workspaces.

Why C&T Publishing thinks it’s a great place to work:
“Our company is leading the way to self-expression through the timeless art of handcrafting. Inspired crafters use our products to create beauty every day.”

4. Human Kinetics
HumanKinetics.com
U.S. Headquarters: Champaign, Ill.
CEO: Brian Holding

Human Kinetics produces informational and educational products in physical activity, health and sports, including textbooks and ancillaries, consumer books, professional and scholarly journals, online courses, software and audio-visual products.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 31
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 5.9%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: Yes/No

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 0%

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 8
PTO includes: Vacation, sick
Vacation days available after 1 year: 10
Maximum no. of vacation days: 25
Sick days: 5 (non-exempt staff); unlimited (exempt)

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Reviewed on case-by-case basis; 10% of workforce telecommutes.
Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes (4 times per year)
Employee assistance program: Yes (informal)
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes
On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes (half-price classes)

Other benefits:

Company pays 100% of medical and prescription coverage (80% for dependents).
Partially subsidized on-site cafeteria.
Adoption assistance.
Tuition reimbursement.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Company pays half the cost for strength, fitness, yoga and tai chi classes at local gyms.
On-site fitness center, ping-pong table, outdoor basketball and tennis courts.

Why Human Kinetics thinks it’s a great place to work:
“Human Kinetics is special in that it blends the type of work one does with who one is, resulting in professional and personal fulfillment and a great sense of ownership.”

5. W. W. Norton & Co. Inc.
WWNorton.com
U.S. Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
President & Chairman: W. Drake McFeely

W. W. Norton & Co., the “oldest and largest publishing house owned wholly by its employees,” strives to carry out the imperative of its founder to “publish books not for a single season, but for the years” in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, college textbooks, cookbooks, art books and professional books.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 43
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 7%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/Yes

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 100% of the first $2,000
Maximum match: $2,000

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 22
PTO includes: Vacation, sick, personal
Vacation days available after 1 year: 10
Maximum no. of vacation days: 20
Sick days: Unlimited
Personal days: 3

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: 13% of head-office workforce telecommutes full- or part-time.
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:

Maternal and paternal leave for adoptions.
Tuition reimbursement.
Employees contribute 1% of salary (pre-tax) for health coverage.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Offers discounts to nearby health clubs.

Why W. W. Norton thinks it’s a great place to work:

“Independence, pride of ownership, dedication to a shared vision, and the joy of working with great books alongside warm, intelligent and supportive colleagues make Norton the ideal place to work.”

6. Chronicle Books
ChronicleBooks.com
U.S. Headquarters: San Francisco, Calif.
CEO: Nion McEvoy

Founded in 1966, Chronicle Books publishes more than 200 books and gift products a year, including titles in art, architecture, food, lifestyle, children’s books, stationery, decks and kits. It also manages titles for eight distribution clients, and has a backlist of more than 1,000 titles.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 38
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 18%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/Yes

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 100% of employee contributions
Maximum match: 4%

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 9
PTO includes: Vacation, sick
Vacation days available after 1 year: 16
Maximum no. of vacation days: 22
Sick days: 10

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: On a case-by-case basis.
Option to work compressed work weeks: Yes (on a case-by-case basis)
Employee assistance program: Yes
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes
On-site fitness/wellness programs: No

Other benefits:

Free coffee, tea and oatmeal. Fresh, local, organic fruit delivered each week.
Domestic partner benefits.
Tuition reimbursement.
Company pays 100% of dental and vision coverage.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Yoga classes in office library.
One paid day off/year for volunteer work and/or 2 hours/week if matched by employee’s own time.
Company pays 90% of health coverage (75% for dependents).
Company pays for 10 employees to travel to New Orleans each year to support Habitat for Humanity efforts.

Why Chronicle Books 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.”

7. InterVarsity Press
IVPress.com
U.S. Headquarters: Downers Grove, Ill.
Publisher: Robert Fryling

A 50-plus-year-old publisher of Christian books, including general-interest books in Christian living, discipleship, evangelism, missions and cultural critique; academic books designed for research and classroom use in biblical studies, theology, philosophy, science and psychology; and study guides and curriculum for churches and small groups.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 5
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 3%
Bonus or incentive program for all
employees: No
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/No

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 35% of first 4% of employee’s salary

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 10
PTO includes: Vacation, sick
Vacation days available after 1 year: 10
Maximum no. of vacation days: 20
Sick days: 12

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Option to telecommute.
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:

Adoption assistance ($5,000 per adoption).
Tuition reimbursement.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Allows paid time off for community service.
In-house training seminars for supervisors several times per year.
Annual two-day, off-site retreat.

Why InterVarsity Press thinks it’s a great place to work:

“This is a great place to work because we are all part of a mission. We publish books that change people’s lives.”

8. University of Arizona Press
UAPress.Arizona.edu
U.S. Headquarters: Tucson, Ariz.
Interim Director: Kathryn Conrad

The University of Arizona Press, founded in 1959, is a nonprofit publisher of scholarly and regional books. The Press concentrates on scholarship that reflects the special strengths of the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 3
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 10%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: No
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/No

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 0%

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 10
PTO includes: Vacation, sick
Vacation days available after 1 year: 11
Maximum no. of vacation days: 22 (after 4 years)
Sick days: 12

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Available to some employees, on a discretionary basis.
Option to work compressed work weeks: No
Employee assistance program: Yes
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: No
On-site fitness/wellness programs: Yes

Other benefits:

Tuition discounts (75%) to Arizona’s three state universities (for immediate family, including domestic partners).
Subsidizes nanny care for sick children.
Partial assistance for childcare.
Elder-care resources (through the University’s Worksite Wellness program).

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Periodic fitness and health assessments, personal consultations.
Nutrition lectures available on campus.
Volunteer days.

Why University of Arizona Press thinks it’s a great place to work:

“The Press cultivates a work environment that is collaborative, creative and supportive of individual as well as group achievement. We recognize every success as the success of all members of the organization, whether they pay the bills, design the books or ship them out.”

9. Liguori Publications
Liguori.org
U.S. Headquarters: Liguori, Mo.
Publisher/President: Father Mathew Kessler, C.Ss.R.

Christian/Catholic publisher of books, Sunday bulletins, newsletters, Liguorian Magazine and more, servicing the core market areas of Christian living, sacramental prep/faith formation, meditation-prayer-spirituality and education/professional. Liguori is owned by the Redemptorist Fathers, a religious Catholic order, recognized by the Vatican.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 4
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 2%
Bonus or incentive program for all
employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/No

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer contribution: 3.5% of salary (discretionary)
Employer match: 50%
Maximum match: 5% of the employee’s wage contribution

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 14
PTO includes: Vacation, sick, personal
Vacation days available after 1 year: 12
Maximum no. of vacation days: 25 (after 25 years)
Sick days: 10

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:

Adoption assistance ($1,500 per adoption).
Tuition reimbursement ($1,500/year for degree programs; $500/year for continuing education).
Bonus program recognizes extraordinary service.
Free, online and instructor-based classes around career and skill development. (Currently, 300 classes are offered, from Microsoft Office to management training.)

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

Mass and chapel services offered.

Why Liguori Publications thinks it’s a great place to work:

“As part of the Catholic Order of Redemptorists, we have a common cause at all levels of the company to succeed, not only for ourselves, but for the greater Redemptorist Mission.”

10. Prestwick House Inc.
PrestwickHouse.com
U.S. Headquarters: Smyrna, Del.
Publisher: James Scott

Prestwick House is an educational publisher with more than 2,500 books in print. It offers a range of products from award-winning annotated adaptations to a variety of title-specific teaching guides.

Overview:

Number of new hires*: 4
Rate of voluntary turnover*: 3%
Bonus or incentive program for all employees: Yes
Employee stock option/profit-sharing: No/Yes

401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings program:

Employer match: 3% to 6% of pay, based on years of service.

PTO time:

Paid holidays/year: 13
PTO includes: one bank of PTO
PTO available after 1 year: 9

Telecommuting/flex time:

Highlights: Telecommuting options for marketing, design and editorial employees, on an ad-hoc basis.
Option to work compressed work weeks: No
Employee assistance program: Yes
On-site exercise and fitness facilities: Yes
On-site fitness/wellness programs: No

Other benefits:

Tuition reimbursement (up to 100% for degree programs).
Paid time off for community service.
Bonus pool (18% of adjusted net profit) split equally among all employees.
Pays 85% of health, dental and vision coverage (50% for dependents).
Transit Pass & Carpool Program covers $35 of monthly public-transit commutes or provides $20 per month to employees participating in a carpool or ride-sharing program.

Other programs or practices that promote a healthy work/life balance:

On-site café with complimentary daily continental breakfast.
Health Care Advocacy and Assistance Program with a team of personal “Health Advocates,” also available to employees’ families and in-laws.

Why Prestwick House thinks it’s a great place to work:

“A commitment to workplace harmony, a low-pressure/high-accountability culture, and trust in employees’ judgment are investments in work quality and efficiency which pay high dividends for Prestwick House.”

*In last fiscal year

If your company didn’t make the “Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For” list, take our (unscientific) test to see how your workplace fares on an employee-friendly scale. Benefits are great, but a nurturing corporate culture is what often makes or breaks a company’s employee satisfaction and morale.

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