10 Top Places To Work in 2017 and Why

Want to know the top ten places to work in 2017 and why?

This list is compiled by Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work For and the criteria for selection is through surveys, each year Fortune partners with Great Place to Work to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, with feedback from more than 230,000 people. Each company’s score is based on Trust Index survey feedback from a random sample of employees.

People anonymously assessed their workplace, including the quality of their leaders, support for their personal and professional lives, and their relationships with colleagues.

Survey results are compared with peer organizations of like size and complexity and are highly reliable statistically.

In addition, Great Place to Work scores a Culture Audit management questionnaire from each company, which reports details such as compensation and benefits, hiring practices, recognition, training, and diversity programs.

Fortune provides tools and resources for companies to get certified as a Great Place to Work.

Here is the list of top ten companies to work for and my ‘why’ they are on the list:

1. Google – six years in a row Google has made the list – why?

Google is famous for perks like free gourmet food, haircuts, sleep pods and laundry services, and more. 

The culture at Google is ultra inclusive with regular town halls and a focus on diversity, the employees love the safe and inclusive culture at Google. The parental-leave policies were revamped when it was noticed that Google was losing top female talent and this resulted in 50% reduction in the loss of working mom talent.

2. Wegmans Food Markets – Wegman’s motto: Every Day You Get our Best

Wegman’s employees love that the 100 year old company has authentic family values:

95% of Wegmans employees said, “I feel good about the ways we contribute to the communities”

93% of Wegman’s employees said, “Management is honest and ethical in its business practices.”

Flexible schedules, opportunities for growth and simple things like a birthday cake make Wegman’s a top place to work.

3. Boston Consulting Group – Providing incredible opportunities for their employees.

This global consultancy promotes a culture of all-stars and attracts others who seek the chance to learn and grow. The opportunities for growth are abundant and in an industry where hard work can burn out the best Boston Consulting group emphasized self care with fitness, sabbaticals, remote work and more.

97% of employees surveyed at the Boston Consulting Group said “we have great bosses”.

4. Baird – Models ‘shared leadership’ by having two thirds of the employees as shareholders and the feeling, says an employee, “everyone is playing the same game and we are all equal contributors.”

 Baird offers telecommuting, job shares, flexible work weeks, onsite medical and liberal policies related to same sex unions.

Bairds culture is people focused – customers first along with employee happiness are their main priorities. The Baird Career site offers insight into the diversity of the company and why its a great place to work.

5. Edward Jones – An example of a culture where ‘sharing’ is integral to the company an employee says, “everyone helps others to be successful”.

Edward Jones provides over 1000 hours of training a year to its full time employees.  Culture includes discounted gym memberships, health insurance for part timers and flexible work weeks.

6. Genentech – This bio tech and pharma company has a very fun yet results focused environment that appeals to its multi generational workforce.

This future of work ready company provides unlimited sick days for its employees, fully paid sabbaticals, onsite childcare and job sharing. Check out this video on their hiring page that shows the culture in Genentech.

7. Ultimate Software – “The love for one another is felt throughout this organization,” one employee says.  Added motivation: Every employee gets restricted stock units on his or her first day.

This company provides 100% health care coverage, sick days for part timers and paid time off for volunteering.

At Ultimate Software Career page the focus is on ‘people’ as their focus and their success factor.

8. Salesforce – CEO Marc Benioff is the “soul of the company” and “truly leads by example” in “making the world a better place,” employees say, praising his full-throated embrace of diversity in a tumultuous political climate.

Staffers gush about the “Ohana” culture (“family” in Hawaiian) that embraces equality, service, and innovation. Besides donating subscriptions for its technology to nonprofits and educators, it grants employees seven days off to volunteer each year and has given away more than $137 million.

9. Acuity – Motto “Teamwork makes the dream work”

Employees feel “a sense of purpose and responsibility” at this Midwestern casualty insurer. It installed a permanent 65-foot Ferris “Charity Wheel” inside its headquarters for local fundraising events, and staffers can vote to direct its charitable giving. Other perks: a 45-foot climbing wall and a jeans-friendly dress policy.

Their career page outlines their team approach.

10. Quicken Loans – Everyone at Quicken Loans is connected to its mission of providing home loans and gives staff a “great feeling.”

Employees ride hoverboards around headquarters and have a basketball court on site.

Their motto is “obsessed with finding a better way”

Onsite fitness, telecommuting, healthcare for part timers and more make this company a great place to work. They have won the JD Powers award in seven consecutive years for outstanding customer care.

All of these companies have a number of qualities in common which are:

1. Focused on ‘people first’ as their strategic driver.

2. Value their employees and want to provide optimal value such as health care, child care and more.

3. Focused on ‘future of work’ strategies such as technology supporting customer initiatives and providing resources to employees to do their jobs well.