The Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI) has named InterVarsity Press (IVP) one of its 2013 Certified Best Christian Workplaces. The only Christian publisher to be recognized, IVP achieved the honor for the fifth straight year.

BCWI reported that overall staff engagement levels at Christian organizations were 51% last year, up from 47% in 2011. BCWI describes staff engagement as the degree to which employees are emotionally and spiritually connected, committed to their organization and their role, and exerting discretionary effort for the betterment of the organization and those they serve. IVP had an exceptional 72% level of staff engagement.

"The tremendously positive results of this survey are a tribute to everyone who works at IVP," said IVP Publisher Bob Fryling. "We are greatly encouraged by the affirmation of our strengths as well as the identification of areas for growth. I am particularly grateful that our highest ranking is in the category of job satisfaction, which the writer of Ecclesiastes says is a good gift of God. Indeed, the spiritual vitality and the twin demonstrations of relational integrity and professional competence as reflected in this survey are evidences of God's grace at IVP."

To achieve certification, organizations must complete the BCWI employee engagement survey and meet predetermined standards of excellence. IVP employees answered more than 50 questions measuring employee satisfaction in terms of organizational commitment, Christian witness, supervisory effectiveness, opportunities for personal growth and development, customer/supporter satisfaction, teamwork, communication and fairness of pay and benefits.

Conducted for more than 10 years by BCWI, a research-based organizational and human resources consulting firm based in Mercer Island, Wash., the workplace survey polled employees from organizations in the U.S., Canada and Australia to identify great workplaces with a Christian mission and/or values.

Click here for the complete BCWI list.