5 Qualities That Will Make You the Best Company To Work For
When Fortune released its annual list of the best 100 companies to work for earlier this year, we are no longer surprised that Google has kept its place at number 1 since 2012. With the kind of working environment they have built for their employees and the culture they have set, workers everywhere in the world secretly wish they worked for Google instead.
So how do you keep your employees from heading on to “greener pastures” and sealing their loyalty working for your company? We reviewed some of the top companies and discovered these 5 qualities that made them ideal places to work for:
1. Employee Care and Engagement
One of the common denominator of these best companies is their investment in their employees’ wellness. They have created programs that engage their workers and provide opportunities that will help them be more effective and productive in their jobs. Look at how Google has invested in their employees—its return has gained them not only the love and loyalty of their workers, but the assurance of steady growth in their business as well.
2. Competitive job compensation and benefits
Providing a favorable salary and generous employee benefits are two major factors that employees look for when applying for a job. Take Qualcomm, for example. Their summer interns receive compensation and are provided with good relocation package in case they live far—fully furnished housing, roommate matching and maid service every other week, among others! I can just imagine how much more their regular employees get. Another thing that the top 5 Fortune companies have in common is the telecommuting option for their employees. Having a flexible working arrangement normally “breaks the tie” when employees choose one job over the other.
3. Dynamic career advancement
Employees want to see how companies can help them progress in their careers. Companies that have a good succession planning strategy are a huge attraction to employees. Quite like Hilcorp Energy, where their senior leaders make it a point to identify potential candidates for executive positions—and they were able to promote 30% of their succession candidates back in 2011. While Hilcorp is open to external candidates, they prefer grooming their current employees since the company culture and values inculcated contribute greatly to leadership excellence.
4. Enjoyable working environment
Who doesn’t love a workplace that brims with enjoyment? Having a fun working environment neutralizes the stress of the workload. And when we say environment, we do not only mean the place but the people working with you as well. May we mention Google again for being best company for making a paradise out of their offices that employees forget they are actually at work. Another notable company that made it to the Forbes list is Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Interactions among junior and senior professionals are very much encouraged that secures each employee’s contribution to the company. BCG highly values this kind of working relationship that they even reimburse interns and new associates for bringing their partners out for lunch and dinners, according to China Gorman, CEO of Great Place to Work.
5. Esteemed corporate culture
High regard for the company’s mission, vision and values are vital in any workplace. A valuable company culture must be seen in how the organization operates and in the way the employees work. Also clearly communicating the company’s purpose will help employees have more ownership of their jobs and get a sense of belongingness and worth in the organization. Edward Jones Investment was able to achieve this with “95 percent of associates being proud of their accomplishments, community impact and the firm’s reputation in the world.”
While your company may not make it to Fortune’s Best Places to Work For list just yet, it is good to carve your way up there. Apply these five qualities in your company and witness how it will create for you a reputation that makes you the finest corporation to work for.
