Paychex Named to Ethisphere’s 2012 World’s Most Ethical Companies List

Third appearance on the list for the payroll and HR services provider

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of payroll, human resource, and employee benefits solutions for America’s small- and medium-sized businesses, has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, the leading business ethics think-tank, as one of the World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies for 2012.

This is for third year Paychex has been honored for promoting the highest of ethical standards, having also been named to the list in 2007 and 2010. Paychex secured a hard-earned spot on the 2012 list by implementing and maintaining upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company’s success, benefit the community, and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.

“We are proud to once again be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies,” said Martin Mucci, Paychex president and chief executive officer. “This honor is a great testament to our employees, and to the value and importance that Paychex places on our relationships with our clients, investors, and communities.”

This is the sixth year Ethisphere has published the WME rankings. Ethisphere reviewed hundreds of companies and evaluated a record number of applications utilizing its propriety methodology through in-depth research and multi-step analysis, naming the companies that surpassed their industry peers to this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list. The 2012 list features companies in more than three dozen industries, including 40 companies headquartered outside the United States.

“A strong ethical foundation is a competitive advantage, and Paychex recognizes the important role corporate responsibility plays in improving its bottom line,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. “As more and more organizations strive for this honor each year, Paychex’s inclusion as a World’s Most Ethical Company for 2012 demonstrates its industry-leading commitment to ethics and dedication to integrity.”

The methodology for the WME ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers, and customers.

Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2012 World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://www.ethisphere.com/wme.

About Paychex

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is a leading provider of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. The company offers comprehensive payroll services, including payroll processing, payroll tax administration, and employee pay services, including direct deposit, check signing, and Readychex®. Human resource services include 401(k) plan recordkeeping, section 125 plans, a professional employer organization, time and attendance solutions, and other administrative services for business. A variety of business insurance products, including group health and workers' compensation, are made available through Paychex Insurance Agency, Inc. Paychex was founded in 1971. With headquarters in Rochester, New York, the company has more than 100 offices serving approximately 564,000 payroll clients nationwide as of May 31, 2011. For more information about Paychex and our products, visit www.paychex.com.

About Ethisphere Institute

The research-based Ethisphere® Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement, and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption, and sustainability. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. Ethisphere provides the only third-party verifications of compliance programs and ethical cultures that include: Ethics Inside® Certification, Compliance Leader Verification™, and Anti-Corruption Program Verification™. The Institute’s premier membership group, the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance™, is a business ethics forum that includes more than 100 leading corporations, universities, and institutions that collectively leverage their experience, expertise, and innovative ways to address emerging compliance challenges. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.

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Paychex, Inc.
Becky Cania, 585-387-6337
Corporate Communications Manager
bcania@paychex.com
Twitter: @PaychexNews

Source: Paychex, Inc.