What if loving one's job was the norm? What if “Monday blues” became as obsolete as getting lost? (thank you, Google maps).
For employees at the 2019 World’s Best Workplaces™, that is becoming closer to the truth. In our global study of workplace culture – the largest in history - we found roughly nine in ten people are having a great experience.
That is way above the global average of roughly five in ten. The World's Best Workplaces give us infinite hope for the future. It's a special group of multinational companies. Their people practices show genuine determination in eliminating experience gaps.
So, we bet you’re wondering, what divides the best from the rest?
We sifted through the people practices from the top five World’s Best. Here’s how they are making the workplace (and the world!) healthier and fairer
1. Cisco
In Germany, Cisco has developed a nine-month program called “Jump.” It's for developing high-potential, mid-level female employees. Employees learn about authentic leadership, strategic thinking and ways to increase impact.
Jump is part of Cisco’s commitment to building a pipeline of exceptional female talent to lead the company into the future. Through Jump, the company has raised the number of female leaders from one out of twelve to five out of twelve.
2. Hilton
Hilton puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to diversity. A percentage of senior leaders' bonus payouts are tied to leadership effectiveness. One leadership focus area is Diversity & Inclusion.
Leaders are evaluated based on whether they cultivate an inclusive environment and how they create a workforce that reflects the diversity of hotel guests.
They’re measured on criteria such as: Do they attract and hire diverse talent? Do leaders create an environment where all people feel welcome and valued? And are leaders helping meet hotel and corporate office diversity targets?
3. Salesforce
Salesforce knows that diversity is critical to the business. That’s why the company created “ Women in Leadership,” a six-month program for female employees of all career levels.
Employees pair with a sponsor both inside and outside Salesforce who act as mentors whom they can get the low-down on the business world from. Women can also expand their career wings at special leadership off-sites.
Women outside of Salesforce are also reaping the benefits. Salesforce.org, the company’s social enterprise arm, equips women from underrepresented communities for success. They make strategic investments in impactful nonprofits like Iridescent and Girls Who Code.
Salesforce employees also rally around these organizations. Employees have volunteered more than 3,500 hours to their programs around the world.
Finally, hiring managers learn the biases that they carry into interviews. The Technology & Product group conducts live workshops to train managers on the impact of unconscious bias.
4. DHL
In Latin America, DHL puts the health and well-being of all employees high on their priority list. “Fit For Work” cares for employees with initiatives for improving mental and physical health. Some examples of program perks include the installation of gyms, weight loss groups, healthy food and yoga classes.
Employees can also take advantage of remote work and extra days off to get licenses. Talks on managing emotions, fears, finances, and other personal issues are also helping employees at work and home. It’s this focus on employees as people that sets DHL apart
In the consumer packaged goods industry, where less than 25% of senior leaders are female, Mars, Incorporated is smashing the glass ceiling. The company has committed to training and promoting women into leadership roles at the local, regional and global levels.
Currently, the company has a rich leadership pipeline that includes 41% female talent - almost double its industry average.
We hope the World's Best inspires leaders to develop new policies and practices that help close gender gaps and put the “balance” into work-life balance.
For all the deep-dive data on what makes employees happy around the world, check out the key findings in our study of the 2019 World’s Best Workplaces.
