Securian Employees Speak: This is a ‘Best Place To Work’

    ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 25 /
EMWNews
/ -- The selection of companies on

the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal's 2008 list of "Best Places to

Work in the Twin Cities" is based entirely on employee surveys. And for the

fifth consecutive year -- and the seventh time overall -- Securian

Financial Group, Inc. in St. Paul is on the list.



    Business Journal editor Kim Johnson says, "...it takes more than a

great benefits package and neat perks to ensure employee engagement.

Corporate cultures described in this publication are steeped in respect ...

"



    "We provide a professional environment where flexible employment

policies make it easy for people to stay with us and a culture that makes

them want to stay," said Kathleen Pinkett, vice president, Human Resources

Planning.



    Even in this era of multiple employer changes within a career, many of

Securian's employees -- including chairman and CEO, Robert Senkler --

joined Securian out of college and stayed on as they developed varied

careers within the company.



    "Because we're a financial services company and our products are

intangible, our people truly are our most valuable resource," said Pinkett.

"We've learned that providing purposeful, challenging work, opportunities

for advancement, and work-life balance makes it easier for us to recruit

and keep our good people."



    Nearly 250 companies competed for a spot on the Business Journal's 2008

list, 160 qualified for consideration, and 45 were selected. To qualify in

the 1,001 -- 3,000 Minnesota employee category, at least 15 percent of a

company's full-time employees had to respond to the blind survey.

Securian's response rate was well above that at 52 percent.



    Securian is one of only four companies that have appeared on the

Business Journal list seven or more times. It also has appeared on

Computerworld's list of "Best 100 Places to work in IT" 13 times and the

AARP's list of "Best Employers for Workers over 50" three times.



    Securian currently employs 2,500 people in downtown St. Paul and 3,500

nationwide. Though Securian does not pay employees who refer job candidates

that eventually are hired, 45 percent of the new hires in 2007 were

employee referrals. Also last year, Securian retained 94 percent of its

work force; of those who did leave, most retired, left the Twin Cities, or

left the work force altogether. More than 80 percent of the openings at

Securian last year were filled from within. And 96 percent of Securian's

employees take at least one training course per year.



    Securian Financial Group helps provide financial security for

individuals and businesses in the form of insurance, retirement plans and

investments. Affiliates include Minnesota Life Insurance Co., Advantus

Capital Management, and Allied Solutions, LLC. Securian has $690 billion of

life insurance in force and $30 billion in assets under management as of

July 31, 200 and serves more than 9,000,000 individuals in the U.S.






    URLS:

    http://www.securian.com

    http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities

    http://www.computerworld.com

    http://www.aarp.com