REI Ranks Number 14 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies”

REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, announced today that it is ranked number 14 on FORTUNE magazine’s 2010 list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

The company is one of five organizations to be recognized on the list each year since its inception, including two previous book versions. REI is also the highest of the Washington State-based companies on the 2010 list, which includes four others.

“Everyday, our co-op’s talented and dedicated employees share their unwavering love of the outdoors to help people from all walks of life experience the wonders of nature through outdoor adventures and protecting shared spaces,” said Sally Jewell, REI president and CEO. “Even in a year when we had to make difficult decisions to respond to a dramatically changing retail landscape, we were rewarded with support from our customers and very high engagement by our employees who each contribute to making REI a great place to work and a financially successful business.”

REI offers a unique benefits program to its employees, such as healthcare options for full- and part-time employees, gear and apparel discounts, employee gear grants, free equipment rentals, generous retirement plan contributions, public transit subsidy, adoption assistance and paid sabbaticals after 15 years of service. For more information about REI’s compensation and benefits, visit http://www.rei.com/jobs/pay.html.

To determine the list of “100 Best Companies to Work For,” FORTUNE works with the Great Place to Work® Institute, a global research and consulting firm, to survey randomly selected employees of each organization. Two-thirds of the ranking is based on the Institute’s Trust Index survey, which asks employees their attitudes on their 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.

The full list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” is available at www.FORTUNE.com/bestcompanies and will appear in the February 8 issue of FORTUNE magazine, available on newsstands on January 25. To complement FORTUNE’s list, a segment highlighting REI’s unique corporate culture and benefits package is posted at http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/01/20/f_bctwf_rei_outdoors.fortune/.

About REI
REI is a national outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions.