At The Coca-Cola Company, employees are fervently attached to their employer. "Everyone is very loyal to the company," one employee says. "They are very proud of all of the accomplishments achieved there." "It is a wonderful company," says another insider, a 15-year Coke veteran. "There is a certain amount of pride many of us take knowing that we have helped get us to this point." Indeed, Coke is the very lifeblood of the company, and its employees shun the sainted liquid at their peril. Says one former financial auditor who describes the company's culture as "quite strong: people here are expected to drink Coke."

But it's not just a matter of red-and-white pom-poms and megaphones at Coke. The "intense" loyalty meshes with what is invariably described as a "conservative" atmosphere, an ambience linked to the sheer size of the company. "Coke has a very corporate, conservative culture," says one insider. "People are very nice here, but it's definitely a reserved atmosphere." "The company's culture is aggressive but can seem slow if you don't see the big picture -- steering a tanker is not like steering a 20-foot sailboat," reports one insider. "Coke is a large company and has a large company corporate culture. The company is very proud of its heritage and integrity, and is conservative by nature," another says. This mix of "rah-rah" cheerleading and "stuffy reserve" leads to somewhat cryptic comments from insiders like: "Coke people tend to be professional in dress and nature, and tend toward the conservative in behavior. This is not to say enthusiasm is not appreciated. In many cases, it is required."

The mother ship

"There is very tight security before you even get into the area, and it continues throughout the complex," says one insider of the corporate headquarters. What are company officials concerned about? Maybe that people will figure out just how self-contained and complete the complex is, or that an interloper will somehow manage to snatch a free Sprite. "The complex basically has all you need right here," says one insider, "There's a cafeteria, a gift shop, a travel agency, and a medical services office all in the complex. People don't tend to leave to go out to lunch because the cafeteria here is so big and inexpensive." The headquarters of Coca-Cola, located in downtown Atlanta, also houses a credit union office, a bank, a health club, a dry cleaning service, a gift shop, and its very own branch of the U.S. Post Office. "The place is beautiful," says one insider, "The first time I visited, I knew I had to work here." "The buildings are very well maintained and very clean. They changed the carpet in the main lobby area about five times while I was there," says a former employee who worked downtown for less than two years. About 6000 to 7000 employees work downtown.

Of the attractions at headquarters, the cafeteria seems to hold a special place in employees' hearts. "I have been told by consultants and contractors who have worked all over Atlanta that the cafeteria here is the best by far," says one. "The cafeteria is the best I have ever eaten at, food and prices," says another insider. "Since drinks are free, you can eat lunch there every day under $3.00. And for that you get an entr?e, two vegetables, and dessert."

There's also the HealthWorks POWERaDE Athletic Club. The company actually has a "Health Management Department" staffed with "Health and Fitness Specialists" whose job it is to reduce health care costs and encourage healthy habits in the company. The company subsidizes all of the services at Coca-Cola's home campus.

KO OK

The Coca-Cola Company likes to say that "Coca-Cola" is the second-best known expression in the world, next to "OK." No wonder "The Coca-Cola Company" stands out on a resume. Add in the ubiquity of the product and the outstanding performance of "KO" stock in the last few decades, and you've got a recipe for super-high prestige -- especially in finance and marketing. "The company's reputation got me into a great business school," says one former employee. "I can tell you that Coca-Cola is the best corporation in America to work for," says one insider. "Coke has a great reputation everywhere in almost every area they are in. There is quality in everything they do, and they work very hard at maintaining that quality," says another.

Pay is good?

Insiders say compensation at Big Red is good, but not stellar. "The pay is in line with that of other blue chips -- which means significantly higher than small companies -- with a special difference that people get stock options at Coca-Cola at much lower levels than in most other blue chips," one R&D employee says. Coke also offers bonuses for more senior employees. Terms used by insiders to describe the pay scale at Coca-Cola include "competitive," "generous," and "varies a great deal, depending on your education and experience."

...but the benefits are great

Insiders describe Coke's benefits package in glowing terms; "one of the most comprehensive around," "the best around," "excellent," and "wonderful" are among the comments Vault heard. Besides the benefits of the corporate campus, employees have the option to finance their car with the help of the company, have several healthcare plans to choose from, have a tuition reimbursement a stock-purchase, and enjoy a 401(k) plan that has made many a Coke employee's retirement a golden one. There are also "days off at Six Flags Atlanta," "free ice-skating," "Thanksgiving Dinner," and "available concert tickets in the Coca-Cola section -- the front -- at almost any major venue in the country." And of course, there is the "all-you-can-drink" aspect of working at Coke, reportedly distributed through coolers, fountains, and vending machines rigged so all you have to do is push the button and the Coke comes out. "You never need pay for a soft drink again between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m," says one employee. "You can OD on the free Cokes, Sprites, and Frescas."

Coke United Nations