The award winners will emerge through their participation in a multiple-choice online survey administered in strict confidentiality by our partner, Southern Research Group. Based on the survey scores, three top winners will be named in each of four size categories.

• Mega-Large Companies (500 or more employees)
• Large Companies (200 - 499 employees)
• Medium Companies (50 - 199 employees)
• Small Companies (25 minimum to 49 employees)

Here are the steps to being named one of the "Best Places to Work in Mississippi:"

1. REGISTRATION: 
   • The online registration takes only a few minutes and must be submitted by an authorized company representative.  It is important that your corporate management endorses this participation in order for you to proceed.  You may go directly to the Registration section and provide the information that launches your company into the Best Places program.

   • Each company designates a primary and alternate contact person who will encourage participation and direct employees to the online survey.  Your contact person will receive a company-specific code that employees can use to take the 10-minute, online multiple-choice survey.  The contact person also receives from Southern Research Group a unique and anonymous code for each participating employee to prohibit duplicate entries and unauthorized access to the survey.

   • Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, Main Street Associations, municipality representatives, human resource professionals and all trade associations are encouraged to contact companies within your jurisdictions to solicit their participation.

2. RANKING PROCEDURE:
   • To be statistically valid, companies must employ at least 25 people. If your company is to have a significant opportunity to make the list, you must ensure an employee participation level based on the following percentages. Having participation of any less can jeopardize your company`s chances of being scored correctly.
     • 25 to 50 employees: 85%
     • 51 to 150 employees: 70%
     • 151 to 500 employees: 50%
     • 501 to 1,000 employees: 30%
     • 1,001 to 3,000 employees: 15%
     • 3,001 to 5,000 employees: 8%
     • More than 5,000 employees: 5%

3. The Surveys:
   The primary strengths and potential in each participating company will be determined in a comprehensive report based upon online employee surveys.** The multiple choice survey can be completed in approximately ten to fifteen minutes. It consists of 60 rating-scale questions, two open-ended questions and 7 optional demographic questions. Employees surveyed should represent a cross-section of the workforce and will be provided with a company-specific code plus an individual one-time entry code to access the survey. The surveys are conducted on Southern Research Group's website.  Employers will receive summary reports but will not see individual employee responses.  Mississippi Business Journal and other partners have no participation in the actual survey process.

The survey is designed to determine how employees feel about their workplace environment. Employees are asked about a variety of attributes which are grouped into seven categories:

• Common Purpose
• Culture and Values
• Communication and Cooperation
• My Department / Team
• My Job
• Learning and Development
• Performance and Recognition

At the end of the survey period, Southern Research Group will look at the data from all companies that participated and met the criteria to determine the rankings. Winners will then be revealed to the program administrators at the Mississippi Business Journal. Winners will be announced during the awards breakfast at the 25th Annual Mississippi Business & Technology Expo on January 16, 2008 at the Mississippi Trademart in Jackson.  

PROCEDURES OF OPERATION FOR THE SURVEY PROGRAM:

1.  Your company completes the registration process online, and entries are electronically delivered to Southern Research Group.  SRG notifies the Mississippi Business Journal of the entries and provides contact information for follow up regarding the awards event and later editorial coverage of winners.

2.  SRG will acknowledge receipt of your registration and assign your company and employee codes to access the survey website.

3.  SRG will contact you by email several times during the process to give you updates on the number of surveys received and alert you to the number still needed for you to reach your size category's minimum qualifying percentage.

4.  SRG program administrators will answer your questions related to the survey and subsequent result reports.

**ALTERNATIVE SURVEY OPTION:

Any company that does not have online access for the percentage of employees needed to qualify for program completion can apply to Southern Research Group for paper surveys.  You will provide SRG the number needed for employees that cannot participate online, and you will receive instructions on proceeding with the paper survey.

You will provide a central receptacle in which employees may anonymously deliver their completed results.  When your company's surveys have been completed, you will mail all surveys to:

 Southern Research Group

Best Places To Work Adminstrator

460 Briarwood Dr. Ste. 300

Jackson, Mississippi 39206

SRG will provide data entry services for the paper surveys and compile results along with any online surveys rescieved from your company.  You are encouraged to utilize the maximum number of online surveys possible within the means of your organization.

SRG will notify you when the qualifying number of surveys have been completed.  You will be able to find out your ranking and other results at the Best Places to Work in Mississippi Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, January 16, 2008.