W. L. Gore & Associates Continues Its Tradition As One Of Nation's Best Workplaces

NEWARK, Del., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 13^th consecutive year, W. L. Gore & Associates has earned a spot on FORTUNE magazine's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For." Only a dozen other workplaces have appeared in every edition of the rankings. The company, known for everything from waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® fabric to life-saving medical devices, is No. 13 on this year's list, now posted at fortune.com/bestcompanies.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100125/PH43385 )

In addition to its diverse innovations, Gore is known for its unique, team-based culture and flat management style. President and CEO Terri Kelly said Gore remains true to its core values, even in the face of challenging business conditions.  

"We recognize the importance of fostering a work environment where people feel motivated, engaged and passionate about the work they do," she said. "In difficult economic times, the true values of an organization are tested, and I am proud to say that our associates have rallied together to make the company stronger than ever. Our culture promotes an incredible level of ownership and entrepreneurship. It encourages associates to channel their talents and interests to produce a continuous stream of innovative, high-value products for our customers."

According to FORTUNE, a driving factor for the companies on this year's list is their focus on hiring and weathering the recession. Of the 100 companies on the 2010 list, 65 are currently hiring, representing a total of more than 92,000 job openings.

Gore is among those building its workforce. During the summer, the company launched an Employer Brand campaign designed to attract candidates and build a talent pool for the future. Called "Join Gore & Change Your Life," the campaign (gore.com/change-life) provides an inside look at Gore's distinctive work environment and helps potential candidates determine if they would be a good fit for the company.

About W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, fabrics, industrial and medical markets. Headquartered in Newark, Del., the company posts annual sales of $2.5 billion, and employs 9,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. It is one of a select few workplaces to appear on all of the U.S. "100 Best Companies to Work For" lists since the rankings were introduced in 1984. This includes all 13 FORTUNE magazine lists and all three "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" books. For the past several years, Gore's facilities in the UK, France, Italy and Germany have also been named as one of the "Best Companies to Work For" in those countries. Visit www.gore.com to learn more.

About the FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For" List

To pick the 100 Best Companies, FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. Two-thirds of a company's score is based on the results of the Institute's Trust Index survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about the management's credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The other third of the scoring is based on the company's responses to the Institute's Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, and diversity. This year's list and related stories will appear in the February 8 issue of FORTUNE, now available on newsstands.

SOURCE W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.