Diageo Again Named One of Best Places to Work in Illinois

PLAINFIELD, Ill., May 6, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, has been selected as one of the 2015 Best Places to Work in Illinois.  Nearly a decade old, this prestigious statewide survey and award program was designed to identify and honor the best places of employment across the state of Illinois, benefiting the state's economy, workforce and businesses.  This is the second year in a row that Diageo has been recognized as a Best Place to Work in Illinois.

Diageo’s Plainfield, Illinois location is home to the company’s largest bottling facility in North America, and the region’s brand technical facility which helps to turn new liquid and packaging ideas into commercial products. The site is also the primary manufacturing location for Diageo’s range of Smirnoff brands. It has played a key role in the Illinois community for many years and seen a number of expansions and upgrades since its opening in 1966, including a recently-completed $120 million enhancement.

“We’re in the celebration business, and we firmly believe our workplace should reflect that,” said Mark Laven, Vice President Operations at Diageo’s Plainfield site.  “To be recognized for the second year in a row as a Best Place to Work is an honor we don’t take lightly.  We remain committed to our employees and to supporting a culture that is engaging, nurturing and inspiring.”

Diageo offers its employees a range of benefits, including recognition and rewards for effort and performance; product and brand giveaways; educational activities about the company’s collection of world-leading brands; and events supporting a range of community, environmental and well-being initiatives.

In the last year alone, the site has supported its annual United Way and Toys for Tots programs, a site-wide weight-loss and fitness challenge, and an Earth Day environmental competition, among other initiatives.  Plainfield employees also band together to raise funds for the Movember movement, the American Cancer Society, and the Plainfield Harvest, a 5K race with proceeds going to local charities.  Diageo’s Plainfield facility has a number of employees with over 35 years of service, whose contributions are recognized at celebrations with the site’s senior management.

Companies from across the state participated in a two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Illinois. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Illinois and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

The 2015 Best Places to Work in Illinois list is made up of 17 companies in the large employer category (500 or more U.S. employees), 26 companies in the medium employer category (100-499 U.S. employees), and 31 companies in the small employer category (15-99 U.S. employees). Diageo has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Illinois in the large employer category.

Diageo will be recognized and honored tonight at the Best Places to Work in Illinois awards ceremony coordinated by The Daily Herald Business Ledger, and will be profiled in a special publication by The Daily Herald Business Ledger on June 22. The final rankings will be announced at the event.

Best Places to Work in Illinois is promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago, MRA-The Management Association, the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce, and Best Companies Group. 

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Illinois program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkinIL.com.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

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