The best
places to work tend to belong to their local chamber of commerce, according
to a recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
Of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in
the United States and Canada this year, 94 are members of their local
chamber, including all of the top 24. Separately, ACCE found that in
a random sample of 100 companies in the Fortune 1000, at least 75 were
members of their local chamber. "This 'Best Companies to Work For'
information is one more indication that the best companies tend to be
chamber members," according to Mount Prospect Chamber Executive
Director Jim Uszler. "If a company cares about its employees, there's
a good chance it also cares about its community and the chamber is the
way that great employers invest in both." Local chambers of commerce
are associations of businesses that come together to improve the local
economic climate and help members network and find new business. Strong
employers link with and learn from like-minded peer companies through
business-led civic organizations - chambers of commerce.
Consumers seem to expect chamber members
to be better-than-average companies. A study by the Atlanta-based Schapiro
Group last August found that consumers are 63 percent more likely to
buy products from companies that they believe are chamber members. Brian
Hamm, investment representative at Edward Jones, which placed No. 4
on the "Best Places to Work For" list, said, "I find
in my experience that the single most effective voice on issues is the
chamber. Because of that, we want to be involved. Whether it is healthcare,
performing arts, public schools or universities, people most interested
in the community are members of the local chamber." His company
is active in the local, state, and U.S. Chamber.
The national organization plans to probe
further into which kinds of companies join their local chamber and which
ones don't. "We are not surprised that many of the best companies
join chambers of commerce," said Jim Uszler "And, I believe
when more people are aware of this, we're going to see still more firms
joining their local chamber."
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