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.”
