Peterborough-based Axiom News is one of 34 companies in the world to win a spot on the premier list for an award recognizing employers with democratic workplaces.

The Worldwide Award for the Most Democratic Workplaces is sponsored by WorldBlu, Inc., a Washington D.C. company which specializes in organizational democracy.

Company employees filled out online surveys developed by WorldBlu. Candidates were then selected for the award based on 10 democratic principles. Some of these principles include leadership integrity, accountability and decentralization.

To gain a spot on the premier list, companies and organizations must score at least 3.5 on a 5.0 scale. Axiom News scored 4.5.

Peter Pula, executive editor of Axiom News, says business practices are changing. Part of this evolution, he says, is allowing more employee involvement in the decision-making process.

“It’s just a reality of doing business today that you have to trust everyone in your organization to make decisions,” Pula says. “If you can’t trust people – both employees and customers – you really have to ask yourself if you really want to do business with them.”

Pula admits he was a little surprised at Axiom News making WorldBlu’s premier list because it’s a small company. Nonetheless, he is aware of the positive impact his way of doing business has had on his employees.

“It was pretty clear that the crew felt there was something different about the way we’re doing business,” he says.

Axiom News employee Jen Zentner, who spearheaded the drive to get her company noticed by WorldBlu, says it wasn’t hard to get her co-workers to fill out the survey.

“Everybody was really into it,” she says. “Everybody was on board.”

Zentner believes the old-fashioned method of one-person rule in workplaces is outdated. She adds that employees need to feel involved in the decision-making process of a company or organization.

“I think the democratizing of workplaces is essential for organizations to move ahead,” she says. “People want more out of their work. They want more than just a paycheque. They want to feel like they’re making a difference.”

To view a complete list of organizations on the WorldBlu list, click here.