Tuesday, March 6, 2007

WorldBlu announces thirty-four companies that made the WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces 2007 as a part of the first annual Democracy in the Workplace Day!

Businesses and non-profits from the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Russia made the premiere list, representing industries such as technology, telecommunications, media, manufacturing, and retail with a combined total of nearly $3 billion in annual sales.

Among the organizations that made WorldBlu Most Democratic Workplaces 2007 premier list were Great Harvest Bread Company, GE Aviation’s Durham Engine Facility, Honest Tea, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Equal Exchange, Linden Lab (makers of the Second Facility Life virtual reality world), Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, SRC Holdings Corporation, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, i-Free, and Threadless.

Here are a few ways that the companies on the WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces 2007 practice democracy:

  • At Linden Lab, makers of the highly successful Second Life online virtual world, key financial data is openly shared in real-time on giant flat-screen TVs, employees are encouraged to chose their own work rather than be told by someone else what to do, and they show their appreciation for one another by “sending love” through their “Love Machine” software program.

  • Great Harvest Bread Company calls their franchise model a “freedom franchise” because it nurtures creativity, excellence and a true sense of ownership.

  • At Continuum, a design consultancy in Boston with offices in Milan and Seoul, they have “open town forums” each month.

  • The Grammy® Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra based in New York City is completely conductorless, rotating leadership amongst orchestra members.

  • At Equal Exchange, the employee-owners elect their Board of Directors and hold six of the nine seats.

  • GE Aviation’s Durham Engine Facility is flat, with just one Plant Manager for 260 employees.

We’re so excited about this list and what it means for the future of democratic in the workplace and we hope it’s inspiring for you as well. Please view the entire list by going to our website at http://www.worldblu.com

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