Corrs Chambers Westgarth has won this year’s coveted Gold ALB Employer of Choice Award in the Australian large firm category, outperforming rival national firms AAR, Freehills and Mallesons which also scored well.

The Employer of Choice survey is an ALB reader survey where respondents are asked to rate firms by six criteria: remuneration, knowledge management and IT, quality of work and clients, work/ life balance, professional development and training and overall quality of employment brand. The firms with the highest overall ratings across these criteria are designated as ALB Gold Employer of Choice firms.

“Being an employer of choice is important to us because we take it as a big tick from our people that they like the direction we are heading. We spend a lot of time listening to our people and making changes as a consequence of what we hear,” said John Denton, managing partner at Corrs.

The firm conducts staff satisfaction surveys twice a year, the results of which are then used to build programs which make the firms a better place to work. One example of this is the firm’s new flexible work practices program. Many other programs at Corrs started in the same way, such as its scholarship program, which has now sent many staff to courses at institutions in Australia and internationally.

“People really want to have their say and know that their efforts are being recognised,” said Denton. “They also want to be paid fairly, have a strong career, know that their work makes a meaningful contribution, and work with great people. If we consult with them about the right way to fulfil these needs, we know we have a healthy, happy and more effective workplace.”

Other Gold employer of choice firms were Queensland’s HopgoodGanim, McCullough Robertson and Cooper Grace Ward, Sydney’s Curwoods and Russell McVeagh in New Zealand.

To read the full article and breakdown of winners click here