Outside Magazine Names Petzl America in Best Places to Work – 2012

OUTSIDE MAGAZINE NAMES PETZL AMERICA AS ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST PLACES TO WORK IN 2012

The North American sales and distribution center for Petzl offers employees an impressive range of benefits, while striving to reduce environmental impacts.

Salt Lake City, August 2, 2012 – Petzl America today was named to Outside Magazine’s fifth annual “Best Places to Work” list. Petzl America was ranked No. 35 out of 100 selected companies. Profiles of the top-ten-performing small, medium, and large companies will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands August 14, 2012. The full list of 100 will be available August 2 at outsideonline.com.


Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Associationand Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States. Participating companies were sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs. The experts at the Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.

In past years, Outside has highlighted 50 outstanding companies. This year, Best Companies Group determined that there were so many top-quality applicants that the list needed to be expanded. Outside editors agreed, and doubled the size of the list.

“We are honored to once again find ourselves on Outside’s ‘Best Places to Work’ list, said Nazz Kurth, President of Petzl America. “Petzl America’s core values have always included a healthy work-life balance, trust and respect for our employees, and corporate social responsibility. These pillars make up the fabric of who we are as a company because we believe it’s the right thing to do – but it’s always great to be recognized for our efforts in this area, too.”

“We’re thrilled to celebrate all 100 of these forward-thinking companies,” says Michael Roberts, Senior Executive Editor of Outside. “They believe success depends on helping their employees live more active and fulfilling lives. The kinds of benefits they’re providing—free fitness classes, flexible hours, subsidized healthy meals, lots of time out of the office—result in a more productive and engaged staff.”

It is Petzl America’s goal to offer employees a variety of ways to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. From flexible work hours and generous vacation time to a matching program for time volunteered or money donated to non-profits, we encourage employees not only to work hard, but also to explore their passions. Founded on a spirit of adventure and a passion for the outdoors, Petzl America also provides a climbing wall and workout facility onsite, as well as discounted passes to local climbing gyms. In addition, we work constantly to minimize our environmental impact through robust recycling programs, high-efficiency lighting, xeriscaping, as well as company-wide rail passes to encourage use of public transportation.

CONTACTS:

PETZL AMERICA: Justin Roth / jroth@petzl.com / (801) 926-1509

OUTSIDE MAGAZINE: Jada Williams / jada@giantnoise.com / 646.649.4933



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About Petzl America
For over 50 years, Petzl has been developing innovative tools and techniques used by those in the vertical world for recreational and professional pursuits. Today, the independently owned Petzl brand is closely associated with exploration, rescue, work-at-height, rock climbing, and alpinism. Our Clearfield, Utah, location is 12 miles south of Ogden and 30 miles north of Salt Lake City, offering access to the beautiful Wasatch Front mountain range and year-round recreational opportunities.

About Outside
Outside is America¹s leading active lifestyle brand. For more than 30 years, Outsidehas covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world Outside. The Outside family includes Outside magazine, the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, The Outside Buyer’s Guides, OutsideOnline, Outside Television, Outside Events, Outside+ tablet edition, and Outside Books. Visit us online and on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BEST COMPANIES GROUP
Best Companies Group works with national and local partners around the country to establish and manage “Best Places to Work,” “Best Companies,” and “Best Employers” programs on a national, statewide, and regional basis. Through its thorough workplace assessment, utilizing employer questionnaires and employee-satisfaction surveys, BCG identifies and recognizes companies who have been successful in creating and maintaining workplace excellence.

ABOUT THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1989, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the premier trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business. OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. Outdoor Industry Association seeks to ensure a healthy and diverse specialty retail and supply chain based on quality, innovation and service. To this end, OIA works diligently to raise the standards of the industry; increase participation in outdoor recreation to strengthen business markets; provide support services to improve member profitability; represent member interests in the legislative/regulatory process; promote professional training and education; support innovation; and offer cost-saving member benefits. Search for outdoor-industry jobs is at OIA’s career center:www.outdoorindustry.org.