Work Place Happiness Is Not A Myth
What it’s like to work for one of those “Best Places to Work” for companies.
Many of us know the grind that goes into a day at the office. It’s easy to dread the commute, the annoying coworkers, or the bad managers that lie ahead of our day. What if that wasn’t the case? What if you looked forward to a day at the office. Or even dare I say it enjoyed your coworkers. If you work for a “Best Places to Work” company, this might be you.
Is this a “GREAT” place to work?
So what’s the deal? Are those companies as great as the awards say they are? Well, I happen to work for one of those companies. The short answer is YES. From my personal experience, they deserve all the accolades. The company I work for has been consistently on these lists for years. They work hard to keep their employees happy and engaged. They’ve found the secret to creating a culture that thrives in this realm of positivity. They strive to create an experience that empowers their people. My company is in the tech/software field. No, it’s not Google, but a good guess. They are fully embracing their employees and what they bring to the table. I was lucky to be let in on this secret.
How do they accomplish this?
In my experience, it all starts from the top. No that’s not just a gimmick or a line, it’s true. The employee-friendly culture was started way before my time. Its’ been years in the making and requires a great level of trust between the employer and employees. They have created an environment where they are truly invested in their people. I have personally had many opportunities to have genuine moments with the owners of my company in various settings. This translates into a great customer experience as well. Happy employees help create happy customers, just look at Disneyland or Trader Joe’s.
What are the perks?
The list of perks a company will offer ranges in variety. Just some of the fun stuff to consider are yoga & meditation rooms, massage services, ping pong tables, ice cream days, snack carts, company-provided lunches, birthday celebrations, paid getaways (for family and friends), and fun team outings. The list can go on. Work anniversaries and milestones are celebrated. You know it’s a great environment when the office manager knows everyone’s name. Did I mention there are over 500 employees in our California location? Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room. What about the coworkers and managers? Because of the culture the company has created they do a fantastic job at hiring smart and friendly people. My coworkers are some of my closest friends. Everyone is very pleasant and welcoming. I have yet to run into a bad apple. Managers are present, involved, supportive, and want their employees to succeed. Managers will often take opportunities to check in with employees to see how they are doing. One-on-one sessions are common and general coffee runs to catch up and chat are not uncommon.
What are the benefit options?
Great places to work for companies have great benefits packages. It’s one of the major selling points. They often have a very robust set of benefit options for their employees to choose from. Options are often similar in these types of companies. The list below is some of what you can expect to experience.
- 100% paid for health care for employees, spouses, domestic partners, and eligible dependents.
- Unlimited Paid Time off (rare, but yes that correct!)
- Remote/virtual work from home days
- Wellness Programs: Lifestyle coaching, fitness groups & more
- 401K plans, with an Employer Match (my company is a 45% Match)
- Adoption Financial Assistance and Adoption Leaves
- Student Loan Reimbursements
- Extensive IVF Coverage
- Short and Long term disability
- Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave
- Free Tutoring services for employee children
- Childcare & Kid Event Programs
They create Diverse and Inclusive work environments
If you want to hire great employee’s you need to invest in your people. The best places to work for companies have very inclusive work environments. To succeed all individuals should be respected, all voices heard, all employees should have the resources and the support needed to thrive. Allowing employees to feel safe and as their authentic self is important. These companies take opportunities to celebrate minorities, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and vets.
They help create a work life balance
The biggest struggle I have found in my career experience is finding the balance between my work life and my personal life. Before being with my current company, I worked for another company for 13+ years. I was overworked, trying to please what felt like an un-please able manager, and drained mentally at times. I grew a lot with that company. But in the last few years, I wasn’t getting much job satisfaction. It was time for a change. Leaving a career of 13 years is a scary experience. It’s’ stepping away from everything you built and starting over. But it’s sometimes a necessary change. I landed on the other side for the better. Don’t get me wrong, my current job has its ups and downs. Workdays can get crazy. There’s always something happening. But I have the support of great coworkers, fantastic managers, and a support system to get the information or assistance needed. All with the help of my company and its understanding its people are the key to success.
