100 Best Companies to Work For 2015: Companies Headquartered Outside Washington

#1: Buckland & Taylor
North Vancouver, british columbia-based Buckland & Taylor, a member of Denmarks COWI Group, has become known as the engineer of record on some of the worlds most famous bridges. B&Ts Seattle office has a slew of notable projects to its name, including the Ohio River Bridge Downtown Crossing in Louisville, the new Tappan Zee Bridge in New York, and the St. Croix River Bridge between Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, and St. Joseph, Wisconsin.

Buckland & Taylors Seattle staff obviously works hard, but it is also rewarded with benefits that far exceed civil engineering industry standards. Ive never worked for a company thats had better benefits or treats its employees as well as Buckland & Taylor has, says Richard Patterson, Buckland & Taylors Seattle practice lead. (Patterson has 30 years in the industry.)

Among the benefits enjoyed by B&T staffers: fully funded health insurance premiums for employees, spouses and families; a $2,000 annual professional-development allowance; a $500 annual fitness reimbursement; and a Friday Fortnight system that gives nonmanagement employees every other Friday off.

On top of that, Buckland & Taylors management is as open and communicative as they come, hosting status-of-the-firm meetings every Monday morning and updates with the company president every other week.

Patterson, like his coworkers, loves his job.

Being open, honest and having the great benefits, he says. Its all very helpful at creating good culture.

#2: North Highland
ACME Business Consulting was purchased by Atlanta-based North Highland in May, but the firms Seattle office retains its independent spirit. Consultants enjoy unlimited PTO, an industry-best employee assistance program, and a concentration of locally based clients, which allows for a light travel schedule. In short, North Highlands Seattle office is what every Big Five consultant wants to be.