# the code #
        <%= select("employee", "company_id",
                @companies.collect {|c| [c.name, c.id]},
                html_options =
                {
                    :onChange => "new Ajax.Update('dd_departments',
                    '/action/department/company_changed/'+this[this.selectedIndex].value,
                    {asynchronous:true, evalScripts:true});"
                }
            )
        %>

#the output #
	<span id="dd_companies">
		Company:
		<select id="employee_company_id" name="employee[company_id]"><option value="1">Geonerco Management Inc.</option>
<option value="2">Alpine Homes, Inc.</option>
<option value="3">Harbour Homes, Inc. (North)</option>
<option value="4">Harbour Homes, Inc. (South)</option>
<option value="5">Parkland Homes, Inc.</option>
<option value="6">Riverside Homes, Inc.</option>
<option value="7">Woodcrest Homes, Inc.</option>

<option value="8">GMN Farms, LLC</option>
<option value="9">MV Dozer, LLC</option></select>
	</span>