The North Bay Business Journal has selected a record 88 companies for its ninth-annual Best Places to Work.

“These are exemplary companies,” said Brad Bollinger, publisher of the Business Journal. “Their leaders show us how to establish and maintain workplaces where morale is high and employees are engaged.”

The 2014 recipients include eight companies returning for their ninth year. “And we are particularly pleased to have nearly 20 new recipients,” said Mr. Bollinger.

The Journal’s Best Places to Work has become an annual performance benchmark for many companies who use the employee survey data to identify both positives in the workplace and areas to improve, according to Mr. Bollinger. The entire process from nomination to awards takes about six months and includes an anonymous employee survey and other submissions from the companies.

“People frequently ask how is a company selected as a best place to work,” Mr. Bollinger said. “The answer is: employees choose you.”

 The recipients will be honored  at a gala awards reception Sept. 18 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa in Santa Rosa. The winners will be profiled in a September issue.