One trend is clear from the companies on Newsweek's third annual ranking of the 100 Most Loved Workplaces in America®: Policies and practices popularized during the pandemic are not fleeting trends. They are table stakes in the race to win the love and loyalty of workers, a key factor in a company's success.
Hybrid, flexible schedules? Check. So-called "quiet hiring" policies that provide opportunities for professional development, then seek to promote from within? Check. Benefits that recognize the importance of wellness, mental health and time off? Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and give back to the community? Check, check and check.
The companies in our top 100 routinely offer most or all of this and more. One burgeoning trend: help for the financial challenges many employees face in today's economy or due to natural disasters or personal upheaval. No. 1 Marriott Vacations Worldwide, for example, raised frontline wages in all of its markets last year. No. 2 Fairway Independent Mortgage's employee relief program awarded more than $96,000 in 2022. Greif (53) and J.J. Keller (74) also have hardship funds, Goodway Group (65) and Fogelman (79) offered stipends to counter inflation.
Such policies are smart business. Research by BPI, Newsweek's partner in producing the Most Loved Workplaces® list, shows employees are up to four times likelier to be more productive if they love the company they work for. In today's highly competitive economy, that's quite an achievement.
Rank | Company | Category | No. Employees | HQ City | HQ State | Why it's Most Loved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marriott Vacations Worldwide | Hospitality | 22,515 | Orlando | Florida | Where to start with this year’s overall Number One? Last year, the global resort giant was our best newcomer and topped our “most respected” list. This year it not only repeats as the most respected employer on the list, but also finishes first in both the large-company category and is the most loved in the hospitality industry. Internal mobility is a big reason employees love Marriott Vacations Worldwide. In 2022, through individual career development and succession planning, more than 2,200 associates were promoted globally. Meanwhile, the company’s employee retention rate improved by 22 percent since the pandemic. One factor driving staff loyalty: The company increased frontline wages in all markets last year. Diversity is for real here. Women make up 54 percent of the company’s global workforce and, in the U.S., people of color comprise 45 percent of its management team. Meanwhile, all employees enjoy an extensive menu of benefits including financial counseling, tuition reimbursement, fertility and adoption benefits, transgender benefits and, of course, generous discounts on travel experiences and resort stays. |
| 2 | Fairway Independent Mortgage | Financial services | 6,162 | Madison | Wisconsin | This employee-owned lender, our highest-ranked newcomer, also took top honors among medium-sized companies, financial services firms and for its value-driven culture. One reason for all that love: Most staffers earn above-market compensation. Meanwhile, an employee relief program last year granted awards worth more than $96 million. |
| 3 | Booz Allen Hamilton | Information technology | 32,000 | McLean | Virginia | Long known for its government and military consulting business, list newcomer Booz Allen Hamilton ranked No. 1 in the professional services category. It is also the list’s “most supportive” company, aided by extensive internal resource groups that assist employees with both professional and personal development. |
| 4 | Hilton Grand Vacations | Hospitality | 15,844 | Orlando | Florida | This year’s No. 2 in hospitality offers employees over 1,000 different educational courses. Among them: GM Bootcamp, a development program for people who are on track to become a general manager at a Hilton Grand resort. |
| 5 | Edmunds | Internet/e-commerce | 500 | Santa Monica | California | Edmunds, No. 1 among small companies and the “most visionary” employer on the list, is the place to go online for new and used car prices, reviews and other auto info. Helping drive innovation: At hackathons, teams compete to come up with new products. After 10 years, employees can take a two-month paid sabbatical. |
| 6 | Jobot | Staffing/recruiting | 761 | Newport Beach | California | This four-year-old staffing start-up, which blends proprietary AI technology and experienced recruiters, donates to global job training programs via its Give a Job Get a Job Foundation every time it makes a placement. Employees can work remotely or at the company’s beachfront headquarters. |
| 7 | Datalink | Software | 150 | Tampa | Florida | Team members at this medical information technology company love the level of collaboration here. The company holds frequent town halls, one-on-one meetings with leadership, check-in sessions with HR and employee surveys. Employee feedback has led to increases in benefits and compensation, which is in the top 15 percent of the industry. |
| 8 | Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | Hotel | 1,139 | Parsippany | New Jersey | Senior leaders listen to team members and feedback directly impacts company decisions: half-day Fridays and more flexible work arrangements (you can work remotely Monday-Friday) started with employee feedback. On-site perks include a gym, Starbucks and a nurse practitioner. |
| 9 | Radio Flyer | Consumer products | 82 | Chicago | Illinois | The maker of those iconic little red wagons—this year’s most loved company in consumer products—recently earned B Corp Certification for its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Every year, 30 percent of “Flyers” get a promotion. |
| 10 | Certinia | Software | 1,000 | San Jose | California | Certinia, which makes enterprise resource planning software, is this year’s most admired software company. Regular town halls and accessible leadership build transparency and trust. Every year, the company shuts down for two paid days for employees to focus on their well-being. |
| 11 | Jack Henry | Software | 7,104 | Monett | Missouri | Employees at this financial software maker designed the company’s Leadership Framework, which outlines expectations for associates and serves as a career development guide. The company’s employee stock purchase plan lets associates purchase JKHY stock at a 15 percent discount from fair market value. |
| 12 | Ally Financial | Financial services | 11,379 | Detroit | Michigan | This online bank, car and home lender offers up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave plus education benefits like student loan repayment ($100/month, up to $10,000 lifetime), 529 plan contributions ($100/month, up to $10,000 lifetime) and tuition reimbursement ($10,000 a year). |
| 13 | Brown & Riding | Insurance | 373 | Dallas | Texas | This wholesale insurance brokerage is owned by over 50 of the company’s employees and believes in investing in its staff. It reimburses employees for courses they need to achieve professional designations, then gives them a bonus when they earn a designation. |
| 14 | Automation Anywhere | Software | 1,595 | San Jose | California | Fittingly for a company that makes robotic process automation software, software bots at Automation Anywhere handle repetitive tasks, so employees can focus on human challenges like developing new product ideas and building customer relationships. Every quarter has one “Stress Free Day” off. |
| 15 | Turo | E-commerce | 923 | San Francisco | California | Turo, a car-sharing marketplace, is No. 3 on this year’s list of the most collaborative workplaces. All full-time employees get equity. Benefits are stellar: Turo covers the full cost of health care premiums for employees (75 percent for dependents) and offers $2,000 a year for education. |
| 16 | Ansys | Software | 6,330 | Canonsburg | Pennsylvania | Senior leaders at Ansys, which makes enigneering simulation software, hold regular roundtables to foster dialogue and increase inclusion. The company lets employees choose work arrangements that optimize their productivity; 92 percent say that flexibility makes them better able to manage their work. |
| 17 | SAP America | Information technology | 105,557 | Newtown Square | Pennsylvania | This enterprise software maker prides itself on an inclusive culture and encouraging employees to use its technology to find new ways to solve social and environmental problems. Benefits include health care coverage for those navigating a transition and an award-winning employee share purchase plan. |
| 18 | Hu | Food and beverage | 51 | Austin | Texas | This organic chocolate and snacks maker takes the top spot in the food and beverage industry in its debut appearance. It bases compensation on role and experience, not college degree, and provides all full-time employees with a $1,000 per year learning stipend. |
| 19 | Flywire | Software | 1,000 | Boston | Massachussetts | This international payments software company offers stellar benefits including an employee stock purchase plan, paid parental and family leave and flexible hybrid work schedules. Cross-functional teams spur creative problem solving and mentorship programs help employees stretch into new roles. |
| 20 | Chainlink Labs | Information technology | 529 | Remote | Remote | This blockchain technology company is big on career development: Mentorship and adviser programs offer access to industry experts, plus employees get learning stipends and are encouraged to attend conferences to help them grow. Fully remote, the company covers the cost of hardware and shared workspaces. |
| 21 | Clune Construction | Construction | 688 | Chicago | Illinois | Workers at this employee-owned general contractor are enrolled in the stock ownership plan after one year. The cost of health and life insurance, including for spouses and dependents, is fully covered for employees who participate in Clune’s Wellness Program. |
| 22 | Southern Veterinary Partners | Health care | 9,067 | Homewood | Alabama | This chain of 386 veterinary hospitals in 25 states is the most loved company in the health care industry on this year’s list. All new vets enter a year-long mentorship program. The Vet Tech Vision program pays vet assistants to further their education. |
| 23 | Incyte | Pharma/biotech | 2,400 | Wilmington | Delaware | This pharmaceutical maker offers 100 percent coverage of health insurance and free health screenings. Employees get concierge service for finding caregivers, a program for chronic back and joint pain, preventive measures for diabetes and hypertension, a children’s behavioral health program and more. |
| 24 | Total Quality Logistics | Logistics/Transportation | 9,000 | Cincinnati | Ohio | There were 6,200 promotions last year at this privately owned freight brokerage. Employees use the Idea Bank, an intranet forum, to provide feedback on everything from the cafeteria menu to software enhancements. Responses come back in 10 business days. Plus: free beer on Fridays. |
| 25 | CMI Media Group and Compas | Advertising/Media | 1,028 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | This health care marketing company features leadership-led team meetings, open-door policies, suggestion boxes and FAQs. The CEO meets with everyone. All that’s led to annual bonuses, financial education workshops, family counseling, services for special needs children, tuition reimbursement and more. |
| 26 | NerdWallet | Financial Services | 770 | San Francisco | California | Every employee at this personal finance information website can get a career enrichment stipend. Benefits include 100 percent paid parental leave, 100 percent paid health insurance premiums and access to mental health tools as well as four paid Mental Health Days and paid sabbaticals. |
| 27 | Kraken Digital Asset Exchange | Financial services | 2,300 | Remote | Remote | Remote global teams with employees in more than 60 countries collaborate across time zones on products for this cryptocurrency exchange. The company offers grants for home—with in-home fitness and well-being coaches. Nearly 40 percent of Krakenites receive some salary in digital assets. |
| 28 | Moveworks | Software | 447 | Mountain View | California | Moveworks, which makes AI chatbot software for large corporate customers, prides itself on deep, cross-functional collaboration and radical transparency about company wins, losses, opportunities for improvement and best practices. Perks include fun team outings and unlimited PTO. |
| 29 | Exabeam | Information technology | 465 | Foster City | California | Trust and collaboration are keywords at this cybersecurity company. The CommUNITY Council fosters inclusion with groups like ExaGals, Pride and Veterans. Thank You Days reward employees with paid time off. There a biannual bonus program for all employees. |
| 30 | Foundation Medicine | Health care | 1,776 | Cambridge | Massachusetts | The company, which makes genomic tests to identify effective therapies for people with cancer, invites patients to town halls to talk about how the company’s tests have impacted their care. Employees are encouraged to take at least one week of vacation each quarter. Sabbaticals are available after six years. |
| 31 | Pure Storage | Information technology | 3,490 | Mountain View | California | The company makes data storage and management hardware and software for businesses. It offers comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits, covering most costs for employees and their dependents. |
| 32 | KnowBe4 | Computer software | 1,700 | Clearwater | Florida | Team members at this maker of cybersecurity training software are encouraged to take five hours a week to learn new skills or improve old ones. Benefits include leadership skills training, tuition reimbursement and bonuses for employees who earn certifications. |
| 33 | Bank Independent | Banking | 671 | Sheffield | Alabama | Employees at this community bank get a pension plan in addition to a 401(k) with an employer match and a premium health care plan that is free for team members, highly subsidized for family coverage and features extremely low deductibles. |
| 34 | Thryv | Computer software | 2181 | Dallas | Texas | Thryv, which makes business software for small companies, lets employees work from anywhere. Yet 76 percent feel connected to their co-workers, according to a recent staff survey. The company offers thousands of free job-related online courses, plus tuition assistance. |
| 35 | Arvest Bank | Financial services | 6,534 | Fayetteville | Arkansas | The mission statement of Arvest, a regional bank mostly owned by the Walton family of Walmart fame, is: “People helping people find financial services for life.” Benefits include competitive compensation, generous PTO and profit-sharing bonuses in addition to a 401(k) plan. |
| 36 | Seismic | Software | 1,500 | San Diego | California | In the past five years, this sales productivity software maker has completed four acquisitions and completed three rounds of funding, tripling its customer base in 2022. All employees get equity in the company and can spend $1,000 per calendar year on external education. |
| 37 | Best Egg | Financial services | 900 | Wilmington | Delaware | Employees at this online personal loan company get four hours per month to devote to personal development. Through a partnership with coding bootcamp, Zip Code, employees without technology backgrounds can move into tech roles. |
| 38 | PENNYMAC | Financial services | 4,000 | Westlake Village | California | This mortgage lender prioritizes employee advancement. A majority in management positions were promoted internally: 86 precent at the executive vice president or higher level, 77 percent of mid-level managers and 79 percent of those at the manager and supervisor levels. |
| 39 | Skillshare | E-learning | 120 | New York | New York | Skillshare, an online platform for videos that teaches creative skills, offers enviable benefits. Among them: a one-month sabbatical after three years, paid time off for volunteering and five “unplug” days where the whole company is off. Every employee also gets equity. |
| 40 | Delta Defense | Consumer services | 676 | West Bend | Wisconsin | Delta provides marketing, sales and support services to the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, which offers training and education to gun owners. Perks include paid parental leave, a match for charitable contributions and reimbursement for home office expenses, gym memberships and personal or home protection. |
| 41 | Nicklaus Children’s Health System | Health care | 4,578 | Miami | Florida | Employees’ compensation at Nicklaus, which operates a hospital and outpatient clinics for children, is compared against the market every three years to stay competitive. Nicklaus has raised its minimum hourly wage to $15.05—four dollars more than the current state requirement. |
| 42 | Altair | Software | 3,089 | Troy | Michigan | Altair makes product development, simulation, AI and other software. It fosters entrepreneurial thinking, empowering individual voices and embracing diversity. The Black Employee Resource Network promotes representation through advocacy, outreach and job development. Gender equality in the boardroom, workplace and tech community is also a priority. |
| 43 | AskBio | Pharmaceuticals | 900 | Research Triangle Park | North Carolina | Patients and families come in to testify about the role the company’s drugs play in their lives. Employees get $7,000 in annual tuition reimbursement, career development rotations and talent exchanges with sibling companies. The company pays over 90 percent of employee health costs. |
| 44 | Lending Club | Banking | 1,302 | San Francisco | California | At this online bank, a wellness program reimburses employees for living healthy. PTO for salaried workers is untracked. Perks include a gym, fitness classes and a café (with barista). Also: free snacks, catered lunch twice weekly and high-tech offices. |
| 45 | Spiffy | Automotive services | 625 | Durham | North Carolina | Employees at Spiffy, an on-demand car washing and repair service, come for pay and benefits well above industry standard, then stay to advance. Car techs receive a budget for books and memberships plus direct access to leadership. Employees can acquire shares after one year. |
| 46 | LHi Group | Staffing/recruiting | 366 | New York | New York | LHi places people in the technology, life sciences, renewable energy and building businesses. The company’s employee ownership trust offers all employees a stake in the company. After 10 years, employees can choose between a Rolex or a one-month paid sabbatical. |
| 47 | DHI Group | Software | 535 | Centennial | Colorado | At DHI, which makes software and online hiring tools for tech companies and job seekers, benefits include an annual bonus plan, employee stock purchase program, 401(k) match, equity awards and quarterly work-from-home stipends. DHI provides inclusive fertility coverage and travel assistance for women’s health. |
| 48 | Amerant Bank | Banking | 621 | Coral Gables | Florida | This Florida-based regional bank offers career development education through partnerships, including with the University of Miami, Inclusent, RMA, Center for Financial Training, Moody’s, Dale Carnegie and New Horizons. A tuition reimbursement program supports team members pursuing degrees. |
| 49 | DaVita | Health care | 70,000 | Denver | Colorado | Fifty-three percent of leaders with profit and loss responsibility at this provider of dialysis and other services to kidney patients are women and 30 percent are people of color. A stock purchase plan lets employees buy stock at a minimum 15 percent discount. |
| 50 | PriceSmart | Retail | 10,975 | San Diego | California | PriceSmart runs membership warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean and South America. The company subsidizes the costs of professional or college programs and provides cross-functional experiences to help pave the way to future leadership roles. |
HOW WE DID IT
Newsweek's ranking of the Most Loved Workplaces 2023® pays tribute to companies that put respect, caring and appreciation for employees at the center of their business model and, in doing so, have earned the loyalty and respect of the people who work for them.
The list was created in partnership with Best Practice Institute (BPI), a benchmark research company that studies and identifies the specific management practices that lead to employee motivation and satisfaction and has documented the strong link between worker satisfaction and productivity and performance. BPI measures five basic areas to determine how employees feel about where they work to create the Most Loved Workplaces® list: the level of collaboration at the firm; how positive workers are about their future at the company; how much employer values align with employee values; respect at all levels and career achievement. Working in consultation with Newsweek editors, BPI also gave consideration to return-to-office policies, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and other workplace and talent development initiatives.
Altogether, more than 2 million employees were surveyed at companies ranging in size from 50 employees to more than 10,000. Additionally, several hundred company officials were interviewed.
To identify the top 100 companies for the Newsweek ranking, companies were evaluated and scored as follows: 35 percent of the initial score was based on responses to BPI's proprietary Love of Workplace Index™ survey. Another 25 percent was derived from analysis of external public ratings from sites such as Comparably, Careerbliss, Glassdoor, Indeed and Google. The final 40 percent came from direct interviews with and written responses from company officials. Newsweek then conducted additional research into every company on the list, as well as the top runners-up, to determine the final list of 100 companies and their rankings. (The list includes both U.S. firms and companies with a strong U.S. presence that are based overseas.)
The rankings combine quantitative and qualitative analysis that was developed by BPI in partnership with The School of International and Public Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh and featured in the book In Great Company (McGraw-Hill, 2019) by BPI, and Most Loved Workplace® founder Louis Carter.
To find out more about becoming a certified Most Loved Workplace®, or to apply for next year's list, go to mostlovedworkplace.com.