Business news : W. L. Gore Named a Top U.S. Workplace

W. L. Gore & Associates has once again earned a spot on Fortune magazine’s annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. The company is ranked No. 21. This marks Gore’s 16th consecutive appearance on the list, making it one of a select few workplaces to appear in every edition of the rankings.

Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs more than 10,000 associates, with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and China, and sales offices around the world.

This year marks Gore’s 55th anniversary.  The company dates back to January 1, 1958, when founders Bill and Vieve Gore celebrated the New Year—and their 23rd wedding anniversary—by launching a business in the basement of their home. Today, Gore is recognized as often for its unique culture as for its industry-leading products, such as waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® fabric. Gore is a team-based organization free from traditional organizational charts and chains of command.

“Gore’s continued recognition as a top workplace reflects the critical role our company culture plays in fostering associate satisfaction and business results,” says CEO Terri Kelly. “Our culture is our biggest competitive advantage. It creates a work environment where people feel empowered to make a difference. And it’s the driving force behind our broad range of innovations, from life-saving cardiovascular devices and high-performance fabrics to aerospace electronics and industrial manufacturing components."

In addition to appearing on all 16 Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists, Gore earned recognition in three books by the same name published in the 1980s and 1990s. The company is also consistently named a top workplace in a number of other countries. In November, the company ranked No. 8 on the Great Place to Work Institute’s list of top multinational workplaces.

( SportsOneSource Media )