Wanted by The Principal Financial Group: Companies That Offer the Best in Employee Benefits
February 1, 2006 (Des Moines, Iowa) — With health care costs escalating and the future of Social Security uncertain, employer-sponsored benefits are more important than ever to the financial security of American workers. Companies that go the extra mile to offer outstanding benefits in this demanding environment deserve to be celebrated. Once again they have that opportunity, as the fifth annual search for The Principal® 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security begins February 1, 2006.
The program, sponsored by the Principal Financial Group®, recognizes 10 companies (with five to 1,000 employees) that excel in employee benefits. Winners are held up as role models for other growing businesses and receive national recognition and acclaim. Companies may enter on The Principal web site at http://www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/index.htm. Additionally, other companies, financial advisors or peer organizations can nominate a company that deserves recognition as one of The Principal 10 Best Companies by filling out a nomination form at http://www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/enter.htm.
Companies are not required to be clients of The Principal to enter. Deadline for entries is April 14, 2006, and winners will be announced in the fall of 2006.
"Maintaining a benefit program that helps employees achieve financial security and helps boost the company's bottom line isn't easy," says Renee Schaaf, vice president at the Principal Financial Group. "It requires commitment, creativity and hard work. The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security honors winning companies for the investments they make in their employees while also sharing their successes - such as reduced turnover, increased productivity and impressive employee loyalty - with other growing businesses."
Winners are selected by an independent panel of judges who are experts in employee benefits. The judges' analysis focuses on several criteria, including breadth and depth of financial benefits offered, level of commitment by the company to its employees' financial security and communication and educational efforts on benefit programs and financial security issues.
"Being named as one of The Principal 10 Best Companies gives the winning employers an edge as they compete for talent in an ever-shrinking workforce," said Schaaf. "Winners are considered employers of choice and are able to use the recognition in efforts to attract and retain talented employees."
Companies selected among The Principal 10 Best Companies are showcased in a nationally distributed best practices guide for employee financial security. The newest guide featuring 2005 winners is currently available on The Principal® Web site, www.principal.com. The winning companies also receive national and local recognition through advertisements and media coverage. In addition, The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc., will make a donation in the name of each company to a local charity of their choice.
About The Principal 10 Best Companies Program
The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security is a nationwide program that searches for and recognizes small and medium-size companies that excel in providing for employee financial security. Entries for the 2006 search will be accepted from February 1, 2006, through April 14, 2006. The program is open to any company with between five to 1,000 employees. To qualify, all entrants must have been based in the United States and have provided a broad range of employee benefits for at least five years. Qualifying companies must have, at a minimum, offered "traditional" employee benefits, such as those relating to retirement, health, life or disability. No entry fee is required, and employees of The Principal were not eligible to enter. For more information, visit http://www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/index.htm.
About The Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group®
(The Principal®)1
is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $188.4 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 15.3 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.
1) "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2) As of September 30, 2005.
