Fortune’s 2020 List of the 100 Best Places to Work Is Out, and Here’s What It Reveals
On February 18, 2020, Fortune Magazine released its 2020 list of 100 Best Places to Work for. With some companies finding a spot on the list for years in a row, we assess what has made the top five companies the best place to work in 2020.
When we talk about the future of work and the elements that embody it, these companies offer at least some of the key elements that comes together to deliver a top-notch employee experience. For instance, most companies in the top 10 offer telecommuting options, while others offer fully-funded health insurance. Workplace diversity is also a priority for them, with a higher minority and female representation.
These companies understand that workplace culture and employee happiness are essential to business success. By embodying a people-first culture, they show that employee experience is a direct influencing factor in customer experience.
What’s interesting that two of the top five best places to work are HR technology providers – Ultimate Software at second place, and Workday at fifth place. It is interesting to see these providers deliver the employee experience they promote through their business model.
Here’s a list of the top 5 companies on the list.
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#1 Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels has held the first place on the list the second year in a row and five years on the list. And it is the only non-tech company to do so. Having extended its leave policy for maternity to 12 weeks and to 4 weeks for mothers and fathers respectively, the company has built a culture that cares for its employees, so it cares for its customers.
In December 2019, Hilton Hotel began its search for 700 work-from-home employees who would be entitled to key benefits like a 401k and discounted stay at their locations all across the world, among others. Hilton is also second in the list in terms of minority representation, at 69.3%.
Number One, Twice 🎉. Hilton has topped the @FortuneMagazine and @GPTW_US Best Companies to Work For in the U.S. list for the second year in a row and we couldn’t be more proud! #WeAreHilton #100BestCos pic.twitter.com/w5FWAUkegf
— Hilton (@HiltonNewsroom) February 18, 2020
#2 Ultimate Software
HR technology provider Ultimate software has found itself at second place, a jump up from number 8 last year. With female representation at 49.5% and minority representation at 43.9%, it boasts of a powerful diversity stance. Ultimate Software also offers unlimited sick days and 100% health coverage.
For the 9th year in a row, Ultimate Software has been named to @FortuneMagazine and @GPTW_US Best Companies to work for list.
This year we ranked #2, our highest ranking ever! UltiPeeps, thank you for always embodying our #PeopleFirst culture! #100BestCos pic.twitter.com/kAgu6CCSok— Ultimate Software (@UltimateHCM) February 18, 2020
Proud is an understatement. Ultimate Software Ranks #2 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For 2020 List. It has been a blessing to be part of this family for the past 4 years. pic.twitter.com/tbJsLBxRiL
— Desiree (@dezidoesit) February 18, 2020
Ultimate Software also takes its corporate social responsibility seriously.
In honor of their 2nd place spot on the #100BestCos list @UltimateHCM is donating 200 meals for EACH ‘Ulti Peep’ amounting to $200,000 and 1.2 million meals for communities in need! WAY TO GO & Congrats! pic.twitter.com/a1Fc7pRLHb
— Great Place to Work (@GPTW_US) February 18, 2020
#3 Wegman’s Food Markets
This family-owned supermarket chain has held its position on Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work for 23 whole years and has ranked consistently at #3 for two years. It has a 53.9% diversity representation, and in 2019, the company offered over $5 million in tuition assistance to its employees. The chain also offers compressed workweeks.
We’re so grateful to our employees for making us #3 on the @FortuneMagazine #100BestCos list! It’s an honor to be ranked on the list for 23 years. Join us in stores 2/22 at 11am to celebrate with cake or a healthy snack. #Wegmans4All pic.twitter.com/MeWEFomSq8
— Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) February 18, 2020
#4 Cisco
Cisco has also spent 23 years consistently on Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work, and this year it ranks at #4, moving up from #6 last year. Cisco is known for prioritizing the employee experience, starting right with the candidate experience. While the company offers employee screening for depression and anxiety, it also ensures that it offers full-scale technology support for its employees to do their jobs effectively.
We love reasons to celebrate and today we’re excited that we’ve been ranked No. 4 on @FortuneMagazine‘s @GPTW_US of #100BestCos. Thank you, Cisconians! 🎉 #WeAreCisco #LoveWhereYouWork
Interested in a career? Be you, with us: pic.twitter.com/QBqUAke9F8
— We Are Cisco (@WeAreCisco) February 18, 2020
#5 Workday
HR technology provider Workday has spent six years on the list, and finds itself at fifth place, having been at fourth place last year. Fortune mentions that Workday’s paid four-month career accelerator program is one of its key reasons for the company’s popularity among employees. The company is also known for its unlimited sick days’ policy and its student loan debt repayment program.
Speaking about being placed on this list, chief people officer at Workday, Ashley Goldsmith, writes on the Workday blog: “… when we bring our best selves to work, in addition to creating a place where people can thrive in their careers, it provides an environment for innovation to grow. … This is the kind of culture we consistently strive for at Workday.”
Thank you @GPTW_US @FortuneMagazine for ranking us number 5 on the #100BestCos 2020 list! We’re honored to be recognized for the 6th consecutive year. And a huge thank you to our Workmates for nurturing our culture and building an inclusive place for all! pic.twitter.com/OjpSig0W62
— Workday (@Workday) February 18, 2020
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Other Key Statistics
Some other key findings from the report are:
- 12 out of 100 companies offer 100% health coverage to their employees.
- 15 out of 100 companies offer student loan debt repayment as an employee benefit and 12 out of 100 offer college tuition reimbursement.
- 11 out of 100 companies offer compressed work weeks.
- 7 out of 100 companies offer unlimited sick days.
- Telecommuting is popular benefit, with 85 out of 100 companies offering the benefit to employees.
Catering to some key benefits like telecommuting and student loan repayment are critical. For instance, NVIDIA (#27 on the list) has provided a maximum amount of $30,000 for student loan repayment.
However, not every company may be able to afford to give their employees these benefits. They can start with the basics, though, by empowering employee happiness through HR technology, or increasing engagement by giving employees the tools they need to do their jobs comfortably. Some key benefits are essential – like health insurance and a good amount of paternal leave. For example, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants (#10 on the list) gives its male employees up to sixty days of paternity leave and up to 30 fully paid business days of paternity leave.
Starting with such benefits can set you off on the right foot with your employees and slowly make your organization a great place to work.
Key Takeaways
Being on a list like Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work can do wonders for a company’s brand reputation among both employees and customers. Some of these companies have been consistently on the list since it first began 23 years ago. But today, being a great place to work – certified or not – is something that should be mandatory. Delivering a superb employee experience is the only way to become a company that can deliver a superb customer experience.
Here are some employees expressing their appreciation at being a part of the 100 Best Places to Work.
12 years in a row! Proud to work at @Salesforce one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies To Work For®” #100BestCos
— Tyler Prince (@Tyler_SFDC) February 18, 2020
Salesforce ranks at #6 on the list.
At #Nutanix, I can verify it IS a great place to work so I’m excited to share that we’ve been named one of @FortuneMagazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2020! #100BestCos #LifeAtNutanix
— Jennifer Massaro (@JMoocow) February 18, 2020
Nutanix is at #84 on the list.
Staff at @Wegmans are celebrating for being ranked as the 3rd best company to work for on the Fortune 100 list 🎉 pic.twitter.com/d2IVy9Brvq
— Jess Stoddard (@JessStoddard) February 18, 2020
Wegman’s is #3 on the list.
Fortune offers a simple analysis of the trend it has seen in the list of the best places to work, and it is three things: inclusion, a higher bar every passing year, and workplace happiness.
Over the 23 years we’ve been publishing the #100BestCos list with @GPTW_US, we’ve found 3 things to be true:
💼 Inclusion has become the gold standard for employee-centric companies.
💼 The bar rises every year.
💼 Workplace happiness is not a myth. pic.twitter.com/ZsHXs3uqzu— FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) February 18, 2020
Learn More: How Talent Leaders Are Shaping the World’s Best Workplaces: Insights for Future HR Leaders
Each company has appreciated its employees on social media for not only for voting for their companies as a great place to work but also contributing to making the company a great place to work. This kind of appreciation can also go a long way in strengthening your employee base and inspiring confidence in the companies they work for. Are you doing any of these things to make your company the best place to work?
Have you worked at any of these companies in Fortune’s 2020 list of 100 Best Places to Work? Share your experience with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.