5/5/2005

Professional Builder Selects Mercedes Homes As 6th Best Company To Work For Nationally

MELBOURNE, FLA. (May 5, 2005) – Mercedes Homes is pleased to announce that they have been chosen as the sixth best company to work for in the residential construction industry by Professional Builder Magazine for their 2005 ranking of the “50 Best Companies to Work For.”

According to Professional Builder, nominated companies were asked to provide information about themselves including employee statistics, offerings, benefits and reasoning on why they provide a good environment in which to work. Employees from each nominated company were given the chance to weigh in by taking a survey that asked them to rate their employer based on reward and recognition, professional development, leadership, communication, corporate culture, and personal satisfaction.

Professional Builder Magazine found that most of the ranked companies sponsor a 401(k) plan, offer profit sharing throughout the organization, provide tuition reimbursement to employees, pay quarterly bonuses and provide flexible schedules.Mercedes Homes also offers company employee day and company trip incentives. As the nation’s largest 100 percent employee-owned home builder, Mercedes Homes is able to leapfrog ahead of most employers when it comes to employee satisfaction.

“We believe that employees who are vested in their company feel a stronger commitment to the organization, which is evidenced in the quality of their work, ” said Doug Barclay, VP of Human Resources. “This award is particularly special to us because our employees were the ones who let Professional Builder know we’re doing a good job.”

Early in its history, Mercedes Homes, a family-owned and operated home builder with locations in Florida, Texas and the Carolinas, created a document titled “Our House” for their employees to express their ethical guidelines and how they wanted to function as a company. As a result, Mercedes Homes goes to great lengths to find the most qualified employees to become part of “Our House.”

Once a member of the family, Mercedes makes every effort to ensure that their employees receive extensive training. Mercedes Homes partners with the Disney Institute to provide career development training to all employees as they move up the company ladder. In addition to Disney training, employees also use training manuals and videos that have been specifically produced for Mercedes Homes.

“We believe that well-trained employees are happier with their roles in ‘Our House’ and pass that excitement along to their customers, ” said Barclay. “Our ranking this year proves that.”