100 Best Companies to Work For

24 of 100

24. Whole Foods Market

Rank: 24 (Previous rank: 18)

What makes it so great?

Employees are buoyed by the wholesome grocer's mission to promote a healthy lifestyle. New hires get a 20% discount card for all products sold in the stores; employees who meet the goals of a healthy-living challenge get up to 30%.

Headquarters:
550 Bowie Street

Austin, TX 78703

2009 revenue ($ millions): 8,032
Website: www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Network with Whole Foods Market

Is Whole Foods Market a great employer, or what?

Employees
U.S. employees	52,915
Employees outside U.S.	1,938

Jobs
New jobs (1 year)	1,333
% job growth (1 year)	3%
% voluntary turnover	9%
Applicants	299,898
Job openings (as of 1/7/11)	1,800

Pay	Avg. annual pay*
Most common job (salaried): Associate Store Team Leader	$72,372
Most common job (hourly): Cashier	$18,191

Benefits
Paid sabbaticals	No
Onsite child care	No

Health
100% health-care coverage	Yes
Onsite fitness center	No
Subsidized gym membership	Yes

Work-life
Job sharing program	No
Compressed workweek	Yes
Telecommuting	No

Diversity
% minorities	44%
% women	44%
Has nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation?	Yes
Offers domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples?	Yes

Professional training
Salaried employees (hrs./yr.):	60
Hourly employees (hrs./yr.):	60

From the Feb. 7, 2011 issue

Notes:
N.A.: Not available. U.S. employees includes part-timers as of time of survey. Job growth, new jobs, and voluntary turnover are full-time only. Revenues are for 2009 or latest fiscal year. All data based on U.S. employees, except job openings, which are worldwide.
* Average annual pay: yearly pay rate plus additional cash compensation for the largest classification of full-time salaried and hourly employees.

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