What the Best Workplaces in the World Have in Common
The U.S. accounts for a disproportionate percentage of the largest companies in the world based on revenue—121 of the Fortune Global 500. But among the 2019 World’s Best Workplaces, American businesses grab an even greater share.
Every year, Fortune ranks the world’s best companies based on their scores in surveys of their employees, administered and compiled by research and analytics firm Great Place to Work. Each company on the list is, by definition, multinational. All 25 received top ratings on GPTW’s surveys from their employees in at least five countries. Together, they employ over 2 million people globally. And more than half (13 of 25) are based in the U.S., with nearly a fourth headquartered in Silicon Valley. Seven of the top 10 are U.S.-based as well.
Technology companies are decidedly among the most beloved, with 40% of the companies on the list representing either the information technology or biotech sectors. Taking the top spot as the best workplace in the world is Cisco, based in San Jose. In addition to its emphasis on innovation and a positive company culture, Cisco has been leading a charge to prioritize social responsibility in its business operations.
That’s a factor that employees at many of these companies cite as a plus. Almost every one of this year’s top finishers has some form of socially conscious global-impact initiative in place. Other examples include Hilton (No. 2), with its commitment to cut its environmental footprint in half by 2030, and Salesforce (No. 3), which provides employees with paid days off specifically to volunteer.
Admiration for many of these companies extends beyond their workforces. Fifteen out of 25 appeared on Fortune’s 2019 World’s Most Admired Companies list—which means that analysts and other companies’ executives and directors rated them positively for their social responsibility, people management, and innovation, among other criteria.
See the full list of the World’s Best Workplaces.
A version of this article appears in the November 2019 issue of Fortune with the headline “Win Globally, Win Locally.”
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