Valassis (NYSE: VCI), one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, announced today that it has been recognized for the second consecutive year by Advertising Age magazine as one of the "Best Places to Work" in Marketing & Media. Valassis was 38th on Advertising Age's list of the top 40.

The Best Places to Work List was determined by the results of two surveys – one detailing hiring practices, benefits and pay and an employee survey, conducted by Advertising Age'sresearch partner, Buck Consultants, LLC.  The employee survey accounted for 60 percent of the overall score. The list includes agencies, media owners and marketers with more than 50 full-time employees.

Nearly 185 companies applied for inclusion on Advertising Age's third annual Best Places list. About 15,000 employees took the survey which measured aspects of the workplace environment that contribute to an engaged staff, including employee engagement and satisfaction; career development; total rewards; and work environment.

"The collaborative spirit, energy and innovative thinking of our associates make Valassis a truly great place to work," said Suzie Brown, Valassis Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing.  "This award is a testament to all of our dedicated associates who are the heart and soul of our company. Our team's passion and drive for excellence shine through to our clients."

There is a strong focus on the company's culture and emphasis on making its workplace inclusive, team-oriented and celebratory. Valassis rewards creativity through a variety of programs, including associate appreciation days and a Platinum Performer program in which 50 associates a quarter are recognized and rewarded with extra vacation days and cash payouts. Communication is also key to the company's collaborative work environment, and information is shared on an ongoing basis through daily huddles, CEO town hall meetings, Sales road shows, the Valassis Associate Council, which is dedicated to open communication and knowledge sharing and more. The company provides a host of convenient services, including onsite workout facilities and discounts, health fairs/flu shots, dry cleaning, postal services and discount tickets, to name a few. 

As a company, Valassis has received numerous awards recognizing its workplace culture, diversity and innovation. In 2011, the company was recognized with 23 regional and national awards from Working Mother, InformationWeek, Diversity Employers and Printing Industries of America, to name a few. Earlier in the year, Valassis was named a "Top 50 Company for Executive Women" by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) and by AZ Magazine in Arizona where it has an office in Phoenix as a "Top 25 Workplace for Women."

Winners are detailed in Advertising Age's March 26th issue at http://adage.com. To read more about Valassis, go to: http://adage.com/article/special-report-best-places-to-work-2012/valassis-38-ad-age-s-places-work-list/233666/.