From fostering collaboration and career development to open offices and diversity initiatives, these 10 companies are inspiring employees the most for 2022.
10. FITNESS HALL PASS
INDUSTRY: Wellness
LOCATION: New York, New York
EMPLOYEES: 1,618
WHY SO LOVED? “Cooperation is a big thing here. (Employee compensation is based on the overall success of the company.) Career development is also a big deal: promotion opportunities are offered to employees first, before outsiders.”
9. ZAPIER
INDUSTRY: technology
LOCATION: San Francisco, California
EMPLOYEES: 735
WHY SO LOVED? “Zapier supported remote work before remote work was a thing. Transparency is a key value, with salary ranges for positions published for all to see. The same goes for career development: Employees are placed in the right jobs through programs that offer specific curriculum and pathways.”
8. CHENMED
INDUSTRY: Healthcare
LOCATION: Miami Gardens, Florida
EMPLOYEES: 5,292
WHY SO LOVED? “With great variety, ChenMed has developed programs to commemorate Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and June 1st.”
7. ZIPRECRUITER
INDUSTRY: HR technology
LOCATION: Santa Monica, California
EMPLOYEES: 1400
WHY SO LOVED? “It’s no surprise that a recruiter would be good at keeping their own people happy. New hires, for example, can speak directly to the CEO through their Donuts With Ian (Siegel) program. Yum.”
6. ALLY FINANCIAL SERVICES
INDUSTRY: Financial services
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan
EMPLOYEES: 11,024
WHY SO LOVED? Looking for a ‘safe place’ to discuss concerns? Ali is for you. Plus, you can feel heard during Let’s Talk About conversations, which help with issues like promoting social justice. Open offices are also a thing.”
(Photo: JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)
5. HILTON GRAND VACATIONS
INDUSTRY: Hospitality
LOCATION: Orlando, Florida
EMPLOYEES: 14,000+
WHY SO LOVED? “If you are hired by this timeshare company in Orlando, you can work in ‘stunning’ locations like Hawaii. Performance awards are also a big deal, through the Champions Club.”
(Photo: jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)
4. MARRIOTT HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD
INDUSTRY: Hospitality
LOCATION: Orlando, Florida
EMPLOYEES: 21,688
WHY SO LOVED? “Employees are regularly rewarded for taking risks. Mistakes are not punished; instead, they are celebrated and used as learning and development opportunities. Please write us down.”
(Photo: JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)
3. AVANADA
INDUSTRY: Information Technology
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington
EMPLOYEES: 58,500
WHY SO LOVED? “Nirvana? This IT consulting company in Seattle provides reimbursement for adoption, surrogacy and gender reassignment leaves. Then there’s the team-building Innovate Fest – with cash prizes!”
2. SAP AMERICA
INDUSTRY: Computer software
LOCATION: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
EMPLOYEES: 113,125
WHY SO LOVED? “Employees embrace the enterprise software company’s mission to make a difference. Appendix A: Staff can take ‘Social Sabbaticals’ – a month-long program to apply their skills to community development.”
(Photo: Jason Doiy/ALM)
1. DELL TECHNOLOGIES
INDUSTRY: technology
LOCATION: Round Rock, Texas
EMPLOYEES: 130,000
WHY SO LOVED? “The tech giant values employees in control of their own destiny. Example: Workers use the Dell Career Center to upskill. One result? The majority of management positions are filled internally.”
(Photo: Ken Wolter/Shutterstock.com)
The “Great Resignation” headlines appear to have been replaced by warnings of an impending recession as inflation continues unabated. Therefore, some believe that the employer/employee dynamic shifted in favor of the formerwho no longer feels obligated to serve workers and can make demands such as an unequivocal return to the office, despite recent studies showing how not offering hybrid work is a problem for nearly half of college graduates entering the workforce. Additionally, the gap between corporate and frontline workers’ perspectives on issues such as understaffing, burnout and effective communication seems to be expandingpotentially leading to a confrontation where the volume can be increased on a ‘quiet exit’.
Such a bleak reading of the current landscape can lead one to question whether anyone is satisfied with their employment situation. According to Newsweek’s second annual report on America’s Most Loved Workplaces, the answer is an unequivocal yes for companies “that have been willing to change with the times and actively work to meet the evolving needs of the people who work for them”.
Partnering with the Best Practices Institute, Newsweek surveyed more than 1.4 million employees at companies ranging in size from 50 employees to more than 10,000, combining public ratings from sites like Glassdoor and Indeed with in-person interviews and survey responses to to make this year’s list. The main findings? Employees are happiest where there is flexibility and career development.
The survey shows that while employees are used to a hybrid setup and expect such an arrangement to continue, the majority of full-time telecommuters are also concerned about the loss of career development opportunities. Even there, however, employees expect to have a greater say in how those opportunities play out.
“The key,” says Lewis Carter, chief executive of the Best Practice Institute, “is to let workers take responsibility for where they want their careers to go and for the company to prepare them for that path within the company. “
Many of 2022’s most beloved companies illustrate this shift by implementing dedicated career development “academies” or projects dedicated to highlighting underutilized employee talent. Test preparation firm Kaplan, at No. 39 on the list, has a month-long program called DevelopU that helps employees improve their skills and encourages them to map out their own development plans.
Newsweek researchers say the most important thing is not to underestimate the power of emotional connection: employees who feel in sync with the companies they work for will be more productive and loyal.
“Employees want to go home every day and know they’ve contributed, whether they’re in an entry-level position or in senior management,” notes BPI head of research Scott Bakst. “Companies on this list highlight how they have given voice to all employees and in return have been rewarded with increased productivity and performance.”
Check out our slideshow above of the ten most loved companies on Newsweek’s list and click here for the full report.