Pakistan Company Wins “Best Places to Work” Competition

Philadelphia: Philadelphia Business Journal has named Parkway Clinical Laboratories one of the top 40 Best Places to Work in Greater Philadelphia, in its inaugural program. The award recognizes the company’s achievement in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of benefits, working conditions, and company culture.

The Bensalem PA-based Parkway was one of 150 nominated companies, making the top 3 list based on the strength of its benefits, programs and employee evaluations.

“I like to empower people to be decision makers,” said President & CEO Raza Bokhari, MD. “We entered the award program,” said Laura Violet Slenzak, Business Development Manager, “because we think our culture is unique in the way we treat our employees, customers and strategic partners, and the employees responded. The company is very proud of its employees, and we’re proud to be a winner of this award.”

Dr. Raza Bokhari is a physician-turned-entrepreneur of Pakistani descent, who specializes in turning around and accelerating health care service companies in the Greater Philadelphia area. He has vast knowledge base of developing creative concepts, implementing programs and form strategic alliances. Dr. Bokhari holds many key positions, all with bottom line accountability and responsibility for company wide operations, business development and corporate strategy. He also serves as President & CEO of New Jersey-based Lakewood Pathology Associates, which has presence in at least sixteen (16) different states.

“Employees are proud to work for companies that are about more than business,” said Bernard Dagenais, Philadelphia Business Journal editor. “And, the results show how creating the right work environment can create powerful business advantages.”
The top forty companies are profiled in a special supplement of the Philadelphia Business Journal issued October 29th, and will be entitled to use the 2004 seal in advertising and public relations outreach.

Companies were evaluated on two kinds of information collected. Each completed an overall questionnaire about retirement plans, health insurance, profit sharing or stock options, performance-based reviews, employee training, paternity leave, and perks such as parking, child care, subsidized transportation or tuition reimbursement.

Employees then responded to questionnaires, addressing pride in the company; whether and how the company encourages, supports, and recognizes achievement; open communication; whether compensation is fair; and relationships with co-workers and immediate supervisors. They were also asked to describe their favorite and least favorite things about the company, and comment further if desired.

The results were analyzed and scored by assigning points to each question and weighing them according to emphasis on creativity, flexibility and collegiality.
Common themes among the top companies focused on work-life balance, respect and caring for employees, recognition of accomplishments, feeling empowered, good teamwork and team spirit and commitment to community service.

“The best places to work are companies that don’t cut back their commitment to employees in a down economy, while asking them to work harder and smarter,” said Philadelphia Business Journal publisher Lyn Kremer. “They recognize employees as their best asset, instrumental in maintaining the quality and reputation for services and products. It’s a smart - and winning - business strategy.”

“We remain committed to high professional and moral values, as we continue in our endeavors to constantly reinvent ourselves in response to changing times,” said Dr. Bokhari. “I am proud of my co-workers, and am honored to be recognized by the area’s leading business journal for our efforts, by being named one of the top Three Best Places to Work in Greater Philadelphia.”


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