What makes a great place to work? Is it subjective? Is it group-oriented? Is it data-backed? Or is it manufactured? These questions often arise when considering what defines a top-tier workplace. Various organizations have attempted to answer these questions by creating lists that rank companies based on different criteria.
The criteria used for rating top places to work often include in-depth, essay-style questions and employee feedback to validate sources. This approach ensures a comprehensive assessment by capturing detailed insights and experiences directly from employees, which provides a more accurate and authentic evaluation of the workplace culture and environment.
Examples of “The Best of Lists” for Work
Great Place to Work Institute, Inc. is a global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Each year, over 11 million people across 50+ countries provide feedback through the Great Place to Work Trust Index™ survey, a credible methodology measuring the employee experience. Companies on these lists outperform their peers in productivity, customer service, retention, and employee pride.
Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list was first published in 1998. This list is based on the “Trust Index,” which asks employees about management’s credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie. Companies like Southwest Airlines, Kingston Technologies, and SAS Institute have been highlighted for their employee respect, perks, and services. Today, companies such as Cisco Systems, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, and American Express are featured for their focus on diversity, workplace culture, and reducing global inequalities.
Best Places to Work is an awards program that recognizes companies for their compensation packages, total rewards, and culture programs. Winners are determined by an algorithm assessing perks, benefits, and salaries showcased through Built-In Company Profiles. The awards cover various U.S. tech hubs and also feature remote lists. Recent winners include Resident for performance bonuses, Cisco Meraki for ERGs, and Car Gurus for hybrid work models.
Indeed launched its inaugural list in the fall of 2023. Based on millions of employee insights, this award recognizes companies prioritizing work wellbeing. According to Indeed, wellbeing is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. The #1 company in 2023 was Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, with a workplace wellbeing score of 83. Everyone deserves to thrive at work, and employees thrive when they feel their wellbeing is a priority. On average, 90% of working adults indicate that how they feel at work matters, and 80% say wellbeing data is important when considering a company.
The Significance of Being Recognized As A Great Place to Work
So what’s the big deal about being on these lists? In 2011, finance professor Alex Edmans published a paper showing that the 100 Best Companies to Work For outperformed their peers in total shareholder returns by 2.1–3.5% from 1984–2009. Similarly, a study by Northern Illinois University found that companies with high retention rates make four times more profits than those with high turnover.
Similarities amongst companies that land on these lists include:
- Attraction of top talent
- Building brand recognition and trust
- Securing a competitive advantage
Well-known companies with good workplace cultures attract more applicants, giving them access to top-tier talent and better retention rates. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately three million people quit their jobs every month. Therefore, if replacing an employee costs one-third of their annual salary, the financial impact is significant.
These lists have become valuable in today’s workplace, leading to more niche lists like Best Workplaces for Parents, Millennials, Women, and Law Firms. This focus highlights that what’s good for one person may not be good for another.
Current Trends in Workplace Culture
Recent criticisms suggest current methodologies for “The Best of” lists focus too much on perks, leadership, and financial success rather than actual workplace culture and sense of purpose. According to Gallup, the theme of “Engagement and Culture” is the most prominent reason people leave their jobs, followed by “Wellbeing and Work-Life Balance.” These reasons account for 69% of job departures in 2023. Thus, there needs to be codified practices to ensure great culture survives beyond leadership whims and shiny perks.
Today’s dynamic workplaces should start focusing on their own rubric of how to land on a ‘Best of’ list starting with these pillars:
- Putting employees first
- Creating worker-centric experiences
- Building trust
Employees who feel valued by their employers take genuine pride in their work and enjoy collaborating with colleagues.
How Workplace Technology Makes the ‘Best of’ Lists’ Criteria Achievable
Technology can help workplaces become more efficient and productive by replacing manual processes with digital tools and systems. This transformation can lead to a more sustainable and modern workplace culture. All the value-added company and work culture components can be accessed or served up in a modern way that mirrors how today’s consumers access information and engage with their social feeds—through an app.
Easy Access to Tools
A recent study by the Center for Information Technology in Education (CITE) found that a surplus of apps causes significant confusion in the workplace. Among 2,000 workers surveyed from the US, UK, and Australia, 69% wasted up to an hour a day navigating between apps. This not only wastes productivity and billable hours but also costs companies significant money to maintain multiple apps, impacting time, money, and employee morale. A unified platform approach can earn back 32 days per year of wasted time switching between apps.
In-the-Moment Communications
Real-time communication has become vital in today’s fast-paced economy, where instant responses are expected. If communication is slow, unreliable, or tied to stationary devices, it loses value. A McKinsey report showed that well-connected teams see a productivity increase of 20–25%.
Desk Booking and Support for Hybrid Work
Desk booking technologies became essential as hybrid work models rose. Future Forum reports that 67% of all workers prefer a hybrid arrangement with access to a physical space. The top drivers for office work are collaboration (33%) and building camaraderie (23%). To support these, employees need spaces for both independent and team work (aka desk or workstation, not a park bench).
Usable Spaces, Meeting Room Reservations, and Hoteling
Hybrid workplaces need desk reservations to support employees. As desk booking took off, the concept of space reservations became popular: reserving desks, meeting rooms, shared spaces, and resources like parking or wellness rooms where employees can accomplish other tasks or rituals outside of “desk” or “computer time”.
Colleague Visibility and Improved Collaboration
Work orchestration helps managers and workers plan office days to coincide with other people, services, or amenities. Tools supporting colleague visibility can improve onsite collaboration and eliminate ghost meetings, enhancing productivity.
Access to On-Site Amenities and Perks
Employers attract candidates with perks like company-funded ride shares, in-store discounts, and unlimited PTO. However, if these perks go unused or employees are uninformed, they lose value. Technology can ensure these extras are effectively used, offering an improved ROI. In 2022, remote work was one of the fastest-growing perks with a growth rate of 315%.
Portal for Training Programs and Professional Development
Continuous professional development is essential for career growth. Seventy-six percent of employees seek opportunities to expand their careers, and 86% would switch jobs for more growth chances. Access to professional development keeps employees engaged.
Navigable Spaces for All Types of Workers and Visitors
Employees shouldn’t waste time finding desks or meeting rooms. For enterprises, indoor navigation offers significant benefits. Multi-story buildings often confuse first-time visitors, making user-friendly indoor navigation essential.
Promotion of and Easy Registration for Events
Post-pandemic, internal events regained value for building relationships. 55% of workers look forward to company culture immersion through live events. Event tech supports promotions, registration, social sharing, and event management. In-app technology, such as push notifications, have a 90% delivery rate, significantly higher than email open rates, making them effective for event alerts.
Opportunities for Employee Feedback
Effective strategies require understanding employee desires and refining value propositions. Pulse surveys, exit surveys, and stay interviews capture feedback. 66% of employees say their workplace has a feedback program. Quick polls and assessments boost engagement, making feedback a critical tool for positive culture.
How Modo Workplace App Helps Achieve the ‘Best of’ Lists’ Criteria
The Modo Workplace App consolidates manual processes into automated experiences accessible anytime, anywhere, leading to more engaged employees. Being recognized as a top workplace isn’t just about reputation—it’s about tangible benefits such as attracting top talent, increasing employee retention, and boosting overall productivity.
The Modo Workplace App provides an integrated solution that supports these fundamental facets, ensuring companies can meet and exceed the criteria set by these prestigious lists.
- Streamlined Workplace Experience A streamlined workplace experience can significantly enhance company ratings by simplifying access to tools and resources, ensuring employees can efficiently perform their tasks without unnecessary friction. By enhancing communication and collaboration through a unified platform, companies foster a more connected and productive workforce, which is a critical component of high employee satisfaction and engagement. These improvements directly contribute to better employee feedback, positively impacting the company’s overall ratings and reputation.
- Supporting Flexible Work Policies Supporting flexible work policies can greatly improve company ratings by providing essential tools for remote and hybrid work, ensuring employees can seamlessly transition between different work environments. Facilitating desk booking and office management through an intuitive platform allows for efficient use of office space and resources, promoting a more adaptable and productive work culture. These advancements lead to higher employee satisfaction and retention, reflecting positively in company ratings and enhancing its reputation as a top workplace.
- Enhancing Employee Engagement and Sentiment Enhancing employee engagement and sentiment can significantly improve company ratings by offering personalized and engaging app features that cater to individual needs and preferences. Promoting wellness and work-life balance through targeted initiatives and accessible tools ensures employees feel valued and supported. This holistic approach not only boosts morale and productivity but also results in positive employee feedback, thereby elevating the company’s reputation and standing in workplace ratings.
- Utilizing Analytics for Optimization Using analytics for optimization can significantly improve company ratings by leveraging data to identify and implement workplace improvements. Real-time insights enable better decision-making, allowing companies to proactively address employee needs, enhance operational efficiency, and foster a more productive and satisfying work environment. This data-driven approach leads to positive employee experiences and feedback, which in turn boosts the company’s reputation and rankings as a top workplace.
- Fostering Inclusivity and Diversity Fostering inclusivity and diversity can significantly improve company ratings by creating an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued and respected. By actively supporting diverse needs and preferences, companies cultivate a more dynamic and innovative workforce. This commitment to inclusivity enhances employee satisfaction and engagement, leading to positive feedback and higher company ratings, solidifying the organization’s reputation as a top workplace.
The Crucial Handshake Between Company Culture and Technology
Company culture plays a pivotal role in workplace success by fostering growth and advancement and creating an exceptional environment where employees can thrive. A positive culture influences how employees interact, make decisions, and achieve goals. For hybrid and distributed workforces, maintaining access to a cohesive company culture is crucial to ensuring they feel connected and engaged.
Consider the statistics: 32% of workers experience dread going to work due to an unfavorable culture, and 43% of those who perceive their workplace culture as average are actively seeking new job opportunities. These figures highlight the critical importance of a strong, positive culture in retaining top talent and maintaining a motivated workforce.
To truly excel as a top workplace, there must be a seamless integration between company culture and technology. Studies demonstrate that employees at companies perceived as technology innovators report significantly higher scores across various dimensions of employee experience compared to those at technology laggards:
These statistics underscore the importance of leveraging technology to enhance and support a positive company culture. A harmonious relationship between culture and technology ensures that employees have the tools they need to be productive, focused, and connected. Technology can facilitate better communication, streamline processes, and provide platforms for continuous learning and professional development—all crucial elements of a thriving workplace culture.
By prioritizing both cultural and technological advancements, companies can create an environment where employees feel valued and empowered. This dual focus not only boosts employee engagement and satisfaction but also drives overall organizational success. To be recognized as a top workplace, companies must commit to evolving both their culture and their technological capabilities in tandem, ensuring that each supports and enhances the other.