I read in Forbes about a new list out of the best places to work, and this one is from Glassdoor. Unlike some of the other lists, where the companies actually apply to be on the list, this one is a big survey of employees across lots of companies (500,000 people participated). In other words, you’re hearing from employees who have NOT been asked by their bosses to say something so they can make the list. The best ones are the ones with the highest scores. Does this absolutely mean these are the best companies? No. I think a big part of the high scores can be traced to being huge companies that offer really awesome perks and benefits, and that’s not always generalizable. This simply isn’t an exact science. But it is, as we say in the business, data.

Facebook was first, and there were a lot of tech companies on there. But honestly I don’t care WHO is on the list. I care WHY. Here are some indications of what makes these great places to work according to the Forbes article:

• the company’s continued commitment to its hacker culture, and trust in their chief executive
• the impact [employees] have on organizations worldwide, the opportunity to connect with top executives and the access to a valuable network of global colleagues
• employees described it as “an exciting and fast growing company where senior leaders are committed to transparency,”
• Zupan said there were a few common themes among the 2013 Employees’ Choice Award winners, including solid company cultures, opportunities for career advancement, and a clear understanding of the company’s business priorities.

Hmmm. Culture, trust, impact, relationship-building, transparency, clarity.

I know you may not have enough resources to offer benefits like $4,000 in CASH to every employee who has a baby like Facebook does (wow!), but I know you can work on creating a culture infused with trust, transparency and clarity (oh, and we wrote a manual for you for that).

What are you waiting for?

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