Great Places to Work: Stryker Corporation

Founded in 1941 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Stryker Corporation is now a $6.7 billion global company. The Mahwah location is home to Stryker Orthopaedics, with an array of functions including manufacturing/operations, finance, marketing, sales, and distribution.

Posted August 11, 2009 by Wayne J. Guglielmo

Stryker Corporation
NJ location: Mahwah
NJ employees: 1,400
Chief Executive: Steven P. MacMillan
Who they are: A leading medical technology developer, with products in orthopedics and in other medical specialties
What we love: The focus on work-life integration, discretionary awards for all workers, green initiatives, and commitment to diversity

Stryker encourages work-life integration with an approach based on flexibility. “There’s no perfect balance that fits every person at every career and life stage,” says Susanne P. Reilly, senior director talent management. Depending on role and responsibility, employees can opt for flextime, part-time, or work-at-home hours, as needed. New mothers, working parents, students, and caregivers find these options especially convenient.

Wellness is also part of Stryker’s workforce commitment. The Live Well With Stryker program—available to employees, spouses, and same-sex domestic partners—encourages active lifestyles, good eating, and other healthy choices. For enrollees who complete and document certain healthy activities, Stryker offers annual incentives up to $150 per person.

Inclusiveness and diversity are also prized. Stryker leaders are judged, in part, on how effectively they inculcate these values—an approach that seems to be working. Since 2002, the proportion of minorities in professional positions has risen from 12 percent to 17 percent. During this same period, the proportion of women in such jobs has climbed from 26 percent to 33 percent.

Despite the downward pressure in the global economy, Stryker’s bonus programs remained in place in 2008, including a discretionary award of 7 percent to all U.S. employees. Employees can purchase company stock at a 5 percent discount.

For Stryker, the return on investment has been huge. “Creating a great workplace goes hand in hand with getting exceptional results,” says Stephanie Fitts, director of regulatory affairs and regulatory compliance. A great workplace has paid off in another way, too. “We invest a lot in people, so we want them here for the long haul,” says Fitts, a six-year veteran who leads a team of twenty.

Recruitment in business-critical areas such as sales is ongoing. For current openings, go to stryker.jobs.

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