SAN FRANCISCO, CA, December 22, 2015 – Companies where employees enjoy their colleagues aren’t just warm, fuzzy work environments; they also experience measurable business benefits as a result of extra employee effort, effective communication and increased collaboration. The direct link between key business success factors and esprit de corps is the top finding as Great Place to Work(R) and Fortune announce the inaugural list of the Best Workplaces for Camaraderie. The new list took inspiration in part from the Golden State Warriors basketball team, which recently set the record for the best season start in any major US professional sport and exhibits a playful, inclusive team spirit on and off the court.
Topping the list of 50 companies are home remodeling firm Power Home Remodeling Group, software provider Ultimate Software, and home builder David Weekley Homes.
“Companies that support the development of strong personal connections among employees and make time for fun at work aren’t just doing it to be nice – it’s a critical strategic investment in people and culture,” says Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work(R) United States. “Great workplaces with a strong sense of camaraderie see higher levels of cooperation, effort and effective communication – all essential ingredients of a high-performing, high-trust organization.”
Companies on our list foster a work climate where social connections may flourish. Power Home Remodeling Group, for example, sponsors a variety of events, parties and activities including bowling, ice skating and an annual three-day trip to Mexico for the whole staff of 1,450.
Says one Power Home employee: “When you get to meetings in the morning, it almost feels like you’re showing up for a party or gathering of just your friends who happen to have this common interest. Everyone’s always really happy to see each other and reach out to each other. Absurd camaraderie.”
The Best Workplaces for Camaraderie is a best of the best ranking. The winners come from the universe of Great Place to Work-certified companies that have great workplace cultures. Nearly 600 companies are certified and have received workplace reviews, which reflect the opinions of over 255,200 employees who were randomly selected to complete Great Place to Work’s Trust Index(C) employee survey. Those employees were asked questions about how frequently they experience the behaviors that create a great workplace. Companies achieving the highest overall results in their size categories were then ranked based on employees’ feedback regarding the quality of the personal connections they experiences with colleagues, taking into account: how comfortable people feel being themselves; how friendly, cooperative, and fun the workplace is; and the strength of its teams. Results from the survey are highly reliable, having a 95 percent confidence level and a margin of error of 5 percent or less. The total score for each company is based entirely upon employee feedback. To see the schedule for all of our workplace lists and more information on how to apply, visit Great Place to Work’s website.
Our research into the Best Workplaces for Camaraderie found evidence that a strong team spirit translates into winning business attributes. The 50 Best Workplaces for Camaraderie enjoy a significantly higher level of employee discretionary effort compared to the 50 lowest-scoring companies in our database with respect to camaraderie. Similarly, two-way communication and cooperation are much stronger at the 50 Best Workplaces for Camaraderie than at the 50 lowest camaraderie workplaces. Extra effort, clear communication and consistent collaboration are critical for business success. They play key roles in productivity, customer service and innovation activities.
For details about our findings on camaraderie’s competitive advantages, please visit our Website.
About Great Place to Work(R)
Great Place to Work(R) is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work(R) provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work(R) produces the annual Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For(R)” list and a series of Great Place to Work(R) Best Workplaces lists including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industry lists.
Follow Great Place to Work(R) online at www.greatplacetowork.com and on Twitter at @GPTW_US.
Contact: Kim Peters, Vice President, Great Place to Work(R) Recognition Program
Phone: (+1) 415 844-2574
Email: kpeters@greatplacetowork.com