The world might seem like it’s only about money and climbing the chain of success, but there is so much to it, including the level of appreciation that is felt from companies many individuals work for. It’s not always about making the most money in as little time as possible, it’s important that companies give back to the people who make it happen: their employees.
There is a very important concept that should be considered when you’re dealing with a any number of employees. You should always treat your employees as well as you do your best customers. Not only will you receive a better work environment from those who work with you, but your brand will receive a number of rewards that you never thought could be possible.
In this list we’ve collected some of our favorite companies that really do show just how much they care about the people who work for them. This list should be an example for anyone and how they should treat their employees with respect and appreciation. This dynamic is extremely important if you want to have a hugely successful business that lasts longer than yourself. It takes time and tons of emotional draining to be able to manage a ton of people, but if you push through it and let your own frustrations be brushed off so you can be positive for those around you. Things will change for the better immediately.
Entrepreneur Richard Branson, who is celebrated for running incredibly successful companies built around happy workforces, once said: “Your employees are your company’s real competitive advantage. They’re the ones making the magic happen–so long as their needs are being met.”
Google is known for its “Google Culture”, their work force is strong with thousands of employees, so you might be asking yourself, “How do they handle all of that with a smile?” We’re here to tell you. Google offers a range of perks to their employees, not only to keep them happy and motivated by making their life easier, but also because it makes the work space a bit more interesting on the day to day. They offer a huge range of benefits that would make anyone want to apply right this minute.
We’ve listed them below so you can really get a feel of what their day to day actually is like. :
- Free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The organic food is chef-prepared
- Free health and dental
- Free haircuts
- Free dry cleaning
- Subsidized massages
- Gyms and swimming pools
- Hybrid car subsidies
- Nap pods
- Video games, foosball, ping pong
- On-site physicians
- Death Benefits
Toms.
Toms. is a shoe company that focuses on giving back not only to their employees but also to the communities around them. They are involved in hundreds of charities and even have started quite a few on their own. But to be able to take all of this humanitarianism on, you have to have happy employees that are motivated to do anything to make a difference. We’ve gone over to the official website of Toms and an amazing informative article based on the creator Blake Mycoskie when it comes to Toms. and their Happy Helping Hour. Read more from Inc.com here:
“The most intriguing practices are those binding Toms’ culture to its mission. For example, once a month, the company holds a “Happy Helping Hour,” in which members of a charitable organization visit Toms to engage with employees in some activity, such as preparing care packages for women in domestic abuse shelters. Toms has greatly increased employee participation in its giving trips, where they assist non-profit partners who are conducting eye exams or distributing shoes in places like Nepal and Honduras.”
Publix
Publix is a grocery store chain that prides itself on providing one of the best working environments of any grocery store in the country. Publix is a store where not only does everyone have a smile on their face, but their employees are excited to go to work each day. Their mission is to give back to the community with quality food and helping with charities all over the world. But that’s not where their kindness stops.
Here is a list of how they give back to their employees:
- Employee stock ownership plan that contributes Publix stock to associates each year at no cost to them
- An opportunity to purchase additional shares of our privately held stock
- Annual holiday cash bonus
- All hourly associates are paid weekly
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match
- Group health plan (with prescription benefits)Group dental plan
- Group vision plan
- Free flu shots
- Direct deposit in up to three separate checking or savings accounts
- Credit union membership
- Tuition reimbursement
- Service awards
- Employee assistance program
- Opportunities for advancement
- Opportunity to participate annually in a survey to let management know your opinion on a wide range of workplace quality issues.
Starbucks
Starbucks is a company that has been a wonderful start for many looking to get involved in business. Starbucks works with their employees to offer amazing benefits and advice in the individual’s career. Not only do they care about their employees enough to pay for college, they will also train you to own your very own Starbucks store! Working at Starbucks might not be everyone’s cup of coffee, but you would be surprised at how much this company really does go above and beyond for their employees.
There are a few amazing benefits to working in this trendy coffee shop:
- You get free stuff each week, employees get to choose between one free product each week, either a pound of coffee beans of their choice, k-cups, or their favorite box of tea!
- Employees always get a 30% discount on any food or drink item.
- Employees are offered “bean stock” a program where they can invest in stocks that can become full official stocks by one year of fully working at Starbucks.
- Starbucks employees are allowed to become partners with the company, which basically means you’re able to become a manager of a store branch.
- You can have Starbucks pay for your college tuition if you’re pursuing your bachelor’s degree.
Apple
Apple is a legacy company, a company that has done everything it can to make a difference in the world we live in today. Not only does this brand care about the world, but they care so much about their employees and each of their unique successes too. Apple has one of the highest positivity ratings in the world compared to other highly successful business and it shows in every way. Many employees have said amazing things about the company and their work experience.
Justin Maxwell, a former Apple employee, was quoted saying this when it comes to employment at Apple:
“You are part of something much bigger than you,” he said on Quora. “The ideas you talk about in the hall, the neat tricks you figured out in CSS, the new unibody machining technique, that’s part of your job, something you are paid to do for Apple’s success.”
Excellent benefits including medical, 401K, and childcare. There are many more exclusive benefits as well that employees get to choose from.
Employees at Apple get to have 25% discounts on all tech per year.
They also offer career building support for those who want to train in other areas of tech.
There is an overall sense of meaning in the work done at Apple. It’s pushing the envelope of technology and by being an employee you’re being a part of that magic.
