The following describes how WorkplaceDynamics determined the Top Workplaces in the Dayton and Springfield metro areas.

Outreach

WorkplaceDynamics reached out to employers with at least 35 employees in the Dayton and Springfield metro areas to participate. The company used a combination of print and online ads and direct calls to employers using direct marketing lists.

Employee survey

WorkplaceDynamics surveyed employees at participating employers using either paper surveys or online survey applications. Employees responded to a set of statements using a seven-point Likert scale. Each of the statements has been tested to ensure it has a high correlation with how employees feel about their workplaces, which is calculated by correlating the statement responses to a control question asking each employee to rate his or her workplace on a scale of zero to 99.

Response requirements

WorkplaceDynamics required a response rate of at least 35 percent for employees in the Dayton and Springfield metro areas. In addition, employers with 85 or fewer Dayton or Springfield metro area employees were required to have at least 30 responders. Large employers could have chosen to randomly sample their Dayton or Springfield metro area employees. At least 500 employees must be included in the random sample for employers with 2,500 or fewer employees. For those employers with more than 2,500 but fewer than 5,000 employees, WorkplaceDynamics requires 20 percent minimum distributed.

Testing for questionable results

After the survey was completed, WorkplaceDynamics ran a series of statistical tests to look for any questionable results. The company disqualified a small number of employers based on these tests.

Selection of Top Workplaces

WorkplaceDynamics categorized the employers into size bands because small employers tend to score higher than midsize employers, and midsize employers tend to score higher than large employers. The company then ranked the employers within their size band based solely on the employee responses to the survey statements. The top employers in each size band were then selected as the Top Workplaces in the Dayton and Springfield metro areas for 2012.