This year, Fortune announced its 25 best places to work list. The companies on the list all stood out for different reasons but were united in their efforts to lead from the head and the heart. Here are some of the strategies these organizations prioritize that make them the best to work for, Fortune reported Oct. 19.
The list is curated through anonymous survey data representing 20 million employees at 10,000 companies worldwide. To be considered, the organizations must have been included on at least five best workplaces lists across the world in 2020 or 2021. Ninety percent of employees working at companies on the list say that they're proud of their employers and 85 percent experience well-being.
Listening to employees and responding to feedback was a common theme among the top companies.
"The main focus is really on trust and how our people feel," said Regine Buettner, global head of human resources for DHL, the top-ranked company on the list. "It's not important what we as a management team want. … What's important is how people feel, how people understand. And this is why we get feedback: To see what we can do better."
Corporate giving and social responsibility also help drive employee experience, helping employees connect their work and purpose to the outside world. Employees are more likely to feel proud of their company and see work as more than "just a job" when their organizations contribute to the community.
Spending on diversity, equity and inclusion also helped employees feel like they would be treated fairly regardless of identity.
"For every dollar you spend on diversity, spend two on inclusion," said Erika Fisher, chief administrative officer and general counsel at Atlassian, ranked 23rd on the list. "Leaders often forget that equity isn't just about hiring diverse people. It needs to live throughout the employee lifecycle." Atlassian has performance reviews and promotion criteria designed to mitigate bias, but it also works with researchers to identify weak points and ways to improve.