Back

Glassdoor ranks Lab among top 10 best places to work

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has been honored for the second year with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, recognizing the Laboratory as one of the top 10 best places to work nationwide in 2020.

The Employees’ Choice Awards program, now in its 12th year, is based solely on the input of employees who elect to provide feedback on their jobs, work environments and companies on Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites.

“I am in awe of our employees,” said LLNL Director Bill Goldstein. “Their hard work and dedication is what makes the Lab special. That they find the Lab a special place to work and are so willing to share their positive experiences, fills me with pride. We will always strive to be both a leader in science and technology in service to the nation, and a place where people can thrive, have an impact and enjoy the work.”

LLNL, already a 2019 winner, jumped 18 spots for 2020, ranking 6 out of 100 on Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work U.S Large.” LLNL received an overall company rating of 4.5 and is ranked the No. 1 government/government contractor employer and the No. 1 laboratory employer. LLNL also is No. 2 on the list of large employers in the Bay Area.

"LLNL has been growing like crazy and will continue to do so in the next few years,” said Renée Breyer, director of Strategic Human Resources Management at LLNL. “As a result, recruiting and retention are a huge focus for all of us. The strategic mission of LLNL combined with our strong benefits attracts new employees. More importantly, the passion for company mission combined with our many perks, including a 401(k) Plan, education reimbursement, onsite work-life activities and resources, along with flexible work options, helps to retain employees for meaningful careers."

LLNL is comprised of a world-class workforce of nearly 7,500 of the best and brightest scientists, engineers, technical and administrative staff, many of whom are drawn to the Laboratory for what it stands for, “Science and Technology on a Mission.”

“This year marks the shift to a culture-first decade in the workplace, and Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards winners are employers that are prioritizing culture, mission and employees at the heart of everything they do. By doing so, their employees have spoken and are recognizing them truly as the Best Places to Work in 2020,” said Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor president, chief operating officer and incoming chief executive officer. “In addition to putting culture and mission at the core of how they operate, this year’s winners stand out for promoting transparency with employees, offering career-growth opportunities and providing work driven by impact and purpose. Congratulations go to all of the exceptional employers this year who stand out in the eyes of their employees.”

On Glassdoor, current and former employees voluntarily and anonymously share insights and opinions about their work environments by sharing a company review, designed to capture a genuine and authentic inside look at what a specific job may be like at a particular company. When sharing a company review on Glassdoor, employees are asked to rate their satisfaction with the company overall, and key workplace factors like career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, senior management and work/life balance. In addition, employees are asked to describe the best reasons to work at their companies as well as any downsides.

“LLNL dedicates itself to employee development and retention,” said one employee on Glassdoor. “This workplace supports and encourages skills development and actively seeks to place you where your skills can be utilized. LLNL welcomes and celebrates a diverse workforce and a safety-conscious, environmentally friendly and health-oriented culture.”

Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work were determined using company reviews shared by U.S.-based employees between Oct. 23, 2018 and Oct. 21, 2019. To be considered for the large category, a company must have had at least 1,000 or more employees and have received at least 75 ratings across each of the eight workplace attributes from U.S.-based employees during the period of eligibility. The final list is compiled using Glassdoor’s proprietary algorithm, led by its economic research team, and considers quantity, quality and consistency of reviews.

“LLNL offers employees ongoing personal advancement opportunities by offering educational presentations on almost any topics you are interested in,” said another employee on Glassdoor. “You will be surrounded by people who are passionate and the best in the industry. My department encourages everyone to unplug. We are faced by highly complex HR situations so being able to recharge and come back rested is important. Plus, you are part of a greater mission. No trendy software or thinking what industry you will disrupt. You are an integral part of national security. No matter what your position is, you are making the country safer every day.”

The Laboratory is hiring and currently there are 339 jobs posted on the LLNL careers site in a variety of fields.

“Having the recognition of being the No. 2 ‘Best Place to Work’ in the Bay Area is an honor that we hope will attract a diverse applicant pool for our hundreds of job openings,” Breyer said. “We look forward to growing our workforce and hopefully many new candidates will look to the Laboratory as an employer of choice.”

Visit the web for the complete list of the Glassdoor Best Places to Work winners in 2020.