What Makes a Great Place to Work?

There always seems to be a healthy two-way traffic between the best employers who are seeking the best candidates, and the highly competent individuals who are seeking employment with the best in the industry. This relationship becomes a win-win situation for both employer and employee. If the corporate environment enables workers to enjoy their work, they will remain motivated to report to work regularly. That prompts companies to offer various attractive perks and facilities to help them retain the best talent in their company. Such successful companies are often listed among prestigious lists in places like Fortune or Forbes Magazine.

Workspace

Employers coming on top of Fortune lists provide a slew of amenities for their employees, such as, in house medical care, library, workout facilities, free meals, etc... For spending a substantial part of their day at the workplace, an environment conducive to working is appreciated by the workers. Some employers also offer the facilities of a healthy cafeteria and natural parks close to the working area.

Flexibility

Very strict rules pertaining to lunch break, tea sessions, etc., need not be enforced rigidly if there is a trust component between the employer and employee. Some companies provide flexible work schedules designed to suit the employees’ convenience. For example, certain employers offer an extended weekend of three days in lieu of an employee having worked for extended hours during the rest of the week.

Additionally, many esteemed companies in the field of engineering and software welcome creativity from employees. Companies that follow such practices will allot some part of the day to encourage workers to explore their talents.

Training & Development

Some of the best employers provide training to develop in-house personnel for management positions arising in the company, instead of hiring people from outside. That helps reducing employee turnover as it increases loyalty towards the company.

Some employers reimburse tuition expenses incurred for skill development programs, which need not necessarily relate directly to the job but could help personal growth and interests. Moreover, interaction between higher levels of management and junior staff helps to improve the process of learning for current and future employees.

Benefits

Since medical coverage, benefits are necessary, many employers offer two weeks of sick leave to their employees. Well, sick leave is liable to be misused by employees who may utilize the same for vacation. Companies that really trust their employees would generally have a policy of unlimited sick leave, thus demonstrating confidence that employees won't misuse this facility.

Happiness

Many employers go beyond the above-mentioned benefits and perks for their employees by encouraging the latter to participate in corporate events concerning community involvement and pension programs to help create a friendlier environment at the workplace. Volunteering for a good cause can be meaningful too.

Employers don't really offer all these benefits at the cost of their profits. On the contrary, all these facilities are conducive to having a motivated workforce resulting to increase production and hence profits.

Family

Facilities like paid maternity leave and subsidized or internal daycare services enable workers to strike an appropriate balance between their work and personal lives. Companies ranked among the best places to work, usually provide these benefits. Policies like this convey that the employer realizes the needs of its employees to have a life beyond the workplace.