State College Magazine readers tab Penn State the 'Best Place to Work'

State College Magazine's annual readers' poll has named Penn State the area's Best Place to Work in 2009.

"I'm pleased that State College Magazine's readers have chosen Penn State as the best place to work," said University President Graham Spanier. "I've always said that one of our top goals is to humanize the University, and we have a theme of 'Putting People First.'"

The magazine's popular annual "Best of State College," issue offers reader opinion on all the area has to offer.

Asked by the magazine to highlight some potentially lesser-known benefits to working at Penn State, Spanier pointed to the Special Assistance Fund, which was created through private funds to help employees through financial emergencies. He also noted that co-workers can donate sick time to colleagues who may have used all of their sick leave due to extraordinary medical circumstances.

Though the economic turmoil that has impacted the nation since last year prohibited the University from giving employees an annual raise, Spanier said Penn State has tried to lessen the impact by covering the full share of employee and University contribution increases for medical benefits.