10 Companies With The Best Corporate Culture

The 10 companies with the best corporate culture know that employees are their biggest strength and invest heavily in them. A corporate culture reflects the identity of the company and its people. It is the combination of values, vision, mission and operational goals of an organization that dictates the way people work. Financial incentives like compensation and pension do lure employees initially, but lifestyle benefits which offer a proper work/life balance and onsite facilities are also becoming increasingly important in terms of retaining them and making them more productive workers. Corporate culture has become an important determinant for employees before joining an organization and is one of the critical factors in whether an organization is a good one to work for or not.

“Corporate culture is, above all else, the most important factor in driving innovation”, according to a study from the University of Minnesota. According to Glassdoor Research, company culture is the #1 factor leading to long-term job satisfaction.

The 10 companies with the best corporate culture leave no stone unturned in their quest to make their employees feel comfortable, safe, and valued at the workplace. Through various attractive perks and onsite facilities, employees are given a chance not only to do their work in peace but also to grow their careers meaningfully. These companies have understood that there is a direct relationship between employee happiness and the company’s productivity.

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The importance of a healthy corporate culture has started to receive more importance in recent times. A good culture fosters trust and confidence in employees, which helps them deliver their best and in return boosts the company’s productivity. Corporate culture is intrinsically linked to a company’s performance. Great companies are highly profitable, hiring talented people and also retaining them. A company with high employee satisfaction generally performs well over the long-term, as evidenced by many of the companies that have made our list, which represent some of the best performing stocks ever.

On the next page we kick off our list of the 10 companies with the best corporate culture, starting with The MITRE Corporation. We have collated data from two sources: Glassdoor‘s culture and value rating (score out of a possible 5), based solely on input from employees and FORTUNE and the Great Place to Work Institute’s “The 100 Best Companies to Work For” which is also scored out of a possible 5 points. The latter list ranks companies based on an evaluation of their policies and culture, pay and benefits programs, and employees’ opinions. We then ranked the companies based on the sum of their score using both these lists (some companies only made one list). Naturally, companies like Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc., which landed on both lists, scored the highest.

For further reading, you might like to check out our list of the 11 best finance companies to work for. Now then, head to the next page to begin the countdown of the 10 companies with the best corporate culture.

10. The MITRE Corporation

4.1

With a score of 4.1 out of 10 on culture and values, MITRE ranks tenth on our list of the 10 companies with the best corporate culture. The nonprofit research center invests in and cares about its employees, as is evident by the company’s quality work delivered in the field of public interest over the past 50 years. MITRE provides a generous retirement plan, comfortable work environment, health and wellness program, competitive pay and benefits, generous education compensation, great people, opportunities for career growth, and much more.

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9. Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE)

4.1

Nike’s culture is driven by innovation and inspiration. It offers excellent workplace culture and facilities adorned with tennis courts, soccer fields, running trails, swimming pools, etc. Employees say that they feel a sense of loyalty and family at the workplace. The sports goods giant supports an organizational culture that reinforces business resilience and competence through a talented and dynamic workforce. Nike Inc. emphasizes inclusiveness in its organizational culture that helps boost employee morale and the company’s competitive advantage. The stock has returned more than 320% over the last ten years, reflecting the company’s strong set of values and culture.

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8. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

4.2

Chevron Corporation ranks 8th in our list of companies with the best corporate culture. It is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. Chevron’s set of values, also called “The Chevron Way”, has helped the company drive innovation and business growth. The company focuses strongly on education and workplace training programs, and values its employees’ ability to strengthen their organizational capability. Chevron also has a safety culture with its employees at the center. People feel motivated to work for a company which can change a country’s economy and lifestyle for the better. The stock has returned more than 137% since its listing and also has a dividend yield of 4%.

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7. Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV)

4.3

Southwest Airlines is known for having never laid off an employee in its 45-year history. People at Southwest Airlines appreciate the company’s workplace environment and culture, which makes them feel valued and treats them like family. Southwest provides plenty of opportunities for career growth, good pay, unlimited Southwest flights and many more benefits to its employees. Employee happiness is at the forefront for the company. Happy employees have contributed towards the company’s solid performance, which is evident by the more than 260% stock appreciation over the past ten years.

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6. Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB)

4.3

Facebook’s organizational culture fosters a spirit of creativity and innovation. Often described as a fun workplace to be a part of, Facebook offers generous pay and perks, career opportunities, as well as work/life balance to its employees. The staff is a friendly bunch, with high team spirit as they work towards attaining the company’s mission of making the world more connected and open. Facebook also maintains an environment that focuses on trust among employees, which motivates people to work hard. Overall, happy customers and happy staff, and a good management culture create a fun workplace environment at Facebook. Shares of Facebook Inc. are up by 266% since its IPO in May 2012, during which time the NASDAQ has returned 101%.

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5. McKinsey & Company

4.3

With a culture and values score of 4.3, McKinsey & Company ranks fifth among the 10 companies with the best corporate culture. The company is known for setting open and clean gender targets for promoting women. McKinsey is regarded as one of the top consulting firms owing to better training facilities, interesting clients, talented employees and a culture that is non-hierarchical and inclusive.

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4. Twitter Inc. (NYSE:TWTR)

4.5

Twitter has been regarded highly for its culture and values. Great people, great food, great compensation, great learning opportunities and great work/life balance – all are factors which are driving forces behind the company’s success. The company fosters an innovative and transparent culture that values passion towards work and idea sharing without hesitation. Employees at Twitter have said that they feel at home due to working in a caring environment made up of supportive people. Onsite gym, free food, healthcare and laundry service are other employee perks. Shares of Twitter have lost over 60% since their listing in November 2013 as its social media platform has struggled to find mass appeal.

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3. Bain & Company

4.7

We are continuing our list of companies with the best corporate culture with Bain & Co. that emphasizes a culture driven by teamwork and support. The management consulting firm has many employee-oriented programs and benefits such as flexible work hours, career and personal development, team-building exercises, networking lessons etc. to promote a dynamic workplace environment. People at Bain & Co. have said that senior leadership invests in a ‘Bainee’ and is supportive of his or her career growth. The business offers various exciting opportunities for employees to work with highly talented people and travel around the world.

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2. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

8

Apple Inc. scores 8 out of a possible 10 and is regarded as one of the most valuable brands globally. The technology giant has a corporate culture that focuses on creativity, innovation and secrecy. The company has been assessed as one of the most innovative companies in the world, as well as one of the most powerful and influential. With the best minds in the industry and a culture that emphasizes creativity and innovation, it is no secret that the company has a competitive advantage, which has helped it retain its industry leading position. The stock performance has been spectacular, with shares rising by almost 1,000% over the past decade.

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1. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)

8.4

With a total score of 8.4/10, Alphabet Inc. tops our list of the 10 companies with the best corporate culture. Alphabet Inc. has an exceptional corporate culture. The company is considered an appealing place to work and does its best to retain the best and brightest minds in the industry. Various onsite perks like basketball courts, bowling alleys, massages, free food etc., coupled with a fantastic organizational culture and insanely good perks have enabled the company to grow its headcount to more than 70,000. The stock has given outstanding returns of more than 280% over the last decade when the broader NASDAQ was up by only 147%.

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Disclosure: None