Paws up for our best workplace

Jamini Deva, with Bobo, and Ollie Downs with Billie at the offices of chocolate maker Mars NZ. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Bobo the King Charles spaniel and Billie the schnauzer love going to work on a Friday.

And why wouldn't they?

Their owners Jamini Deva and Ollie Downs are staff members at Mars NZ, just judged the best workplace in the country.

And while Mars NZ is synonymous with making chocolate bars not good for dogs they also make a range of pet food, and that is just the tonic for Bobo and Billie.

Mars NZ took overall top prize from 35 finalists in the 2010 JRA Best Workplace Awards.

The chocolate manufacturer also won the medium-large workplace category.

Dog days on a Friday, plus pyjama and other theme days, made for a great work culture, said staff.

"Being able to bring Bobo in on Fridays is great," said Deva.

"It's pretty friendly - everyone's open and honest and we all have a lot of fun and joke around."

Downs said Billie enjoyed socialising with other dogs in the office.

Staff had fun as well as worked hard, he said.

"We've got a bunch of people who are passionate about what they do.

"A lot of companies have values and principles but a lot of companies don't live by them. Mars works hard to live by its principles," he said.

General manager Gerry Lynch said they were "over the moon" with the wins.

"We know it's a great place to work and it's great to get the recognition," he said.

Lynch attributed the win to a "family" environment, staff commitment to company principles and a drive to keep improving.

It was the fourth time Mars NZ has been successful - two years ago it took out the medium-large workplace category and in 2007 and 2009 was third in its category.

Employees answered a 60-question survey about their company which covered categories including culture and values, learning and development, reward and recognition and communication and co-operation.

Winners

* Overall winner: Mars New Zealand

* Small category: winner, Redvespa Consultants; most improved, ACCO New Zealand.

* Small-medium category: Retail Institute; most improved, Chartis.

* Medium-large category: Mars New Zealand; most improved, The Laminex Group.

* Large Category: Winner and most improved, Warehouse Stationary.

* Overland Footwear, Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand and Maven International have been finalists for the past five years. AMI Insurance has been a finalist for the last 10 years, since the survey began in 2000.