Cisco ranks at #1 for the second year in a row. We examine why.
When we think of 2020 in the future, the first few things to strike us will be the resilience of the human spirit and organizations. It will also be a year that reinforced the belief that there is nothing more powerful than an organization that truly cares for its employees and has had the courage to address social injustice by creating a fair and safe workplace.
Fortune magazine yesterday released its list of Fortune World’s Best Workplaces 2020Opens a new window . It is a list of 25 organizations that have been recognized for creating globally great cultures and employing 2.1 million people worldwide in industries ranging from manufacturing to technology to transportation.
Cisco has ranked first on the list for the second consecutive year. DHL ranked second on the 2020 list, and hotel giant Hilton was placed third.
Understanding what these organizations are doing differently, especially during the crisis, will be necessary for those who want to grow. The traits they have demonstrated for their employees are essential to identify and emulate because they will have a far-reaching impact on their employees and external partners like clients and vendors.
What Sets the World’s Best Workplaces Apart?
As per the report, 87% of Cisco workers globally called the company a psychologically and emotionally healthy workplace heading into the pandemic. Leaders performed weekly “check-ins†of 75 minutes to listen to employees, address questions, and had regular surveys internally to check on the employee experience.
Cisco also invited racial equity experts to speak to their staff. The company assessed employees’ comments and categorized them on a color spectrum to indicate the potentially disrespectful ones and those that could lead to meaningful conversations.
Proud Cisconian! Thank you Fortune and Great Place to Work US for naming us #1 back-to-back winners on the #WorldsBestWorkplacesOpens a new window list 🎉 #WeAreCiscoOpens a new window #LoveWhereYouWorkOpens a new window
— Kim Hughes (@kimonthefly) October 13, 2020Opens a new window
In Fortune’s February 2020 list of 100 Best Places to WorkOpens a new window , Hilton Hotels topped the list. In this list, which differs from the February list, the hotel giant is at the second spot. But its employees have appreciated it for aspects like an extended leave policy for maternity to 12 weeks and 4 weeks for mothers and fathers, respectively.
In December 2019, Hilton embraced remote work before it was cool. The hotel created 700 work-from-home positions, and these employees would be entitled to critical benefits like a 401k and discounted stay at hotel locations all across the world. Hilton also has the distinction of being second in the list in terms of minority representation, at 69.3%.
The above trends point to aspects that companies have worked on – racial and gender equity, constant communication, listening and targeted action for change. It was easier to remain unchanged, but these organizations took this pandemic as an opportunity to transform, and as a result, they have emerged as the best workplaces.
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Enabling a Safe and Trustworthy Workplace
Employers’ role has changed drastically from being a source of income or jobs to becoming a true partner and support during a crisis. Some organizations have adapted to this role sooner than others.
Companies usually perform annual engagement surveys. But what if a crisis needs them to do the online survey multiple times a year? Do they revise their surveys to gauge specific themes during these challenging times? And just conducting surveys is never enough. Acting based on employee responses is the only way to build employee trust and maintain it.
Most organizations have forgotten to listen closely through multiple channels like surveys and virtual meetings for leaders. Also, while understanding the pulse of the overall workforce is essential, specific insights are also critical. For instance, the Cisco executive team had a listening session with 18 Black leaders from across the organization. This form of listening is also an integral part of evolving to become a better workplace.
Earlier this year, Cisco demonstrated its stand on racism by firing some employees for posting comments that it considered racist during a virtual company event. This may have strengthened its employees’ psychological safety.
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What is becoming more important and evident is that companies that extend empathy and kindness to employees are emerging as workplaces of choice. Such an approach may not guarantee 100% employee trust and loyalty, but it is a significant step in earning their trust and building a recognizable employer brand.
Note: Fortune conducted surveys representing 10.2 million employees. These employees work at 10,000 organizations that work with Great Place to Work. The data was collected from 2019 through mid-2020 and consisted of responses from more than 60 questions on their Trust Index survey.