The Benefits of Top Workplaces

The Top Workplaces program identifies organizations that excel at organizational health and employee engagement. The Washington Post, in partnership with Energage, offers a free assessment through a simple, scientifically sound and anonymous employee feedback survey.

The Top Workplaces program recruits organizations, walks them through the survey, and creates the list of top-ranking companies. The list of the year’s Top Workplaces is published in The Washington Post special publication and online. All recognized Top Workplaces are invited to celebrate at a recognition event.

Companies that earn recognition as outstanding workplaces attract more highly qualified job applicants and experience reduced employee turnover, according to research published in the Academy of Management Journal.

 “While managers, recruiters, and advertising can say a company is a great place to work, third-party branding from an external source sends a more credible signal,” said Professor David G. Allen, the study’s co-author and former Chair of the Department of Human Resource Management at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.

Why do companies participate? Consider the benefits:

• Shout out, stand out: It encourages workplace pride. If you work at a great company, give colleagues a morale boost with something to celebrate. And give your employer well-served credit for creating something special.
• Raise the business profile: The Top Workplaces logo on company materials and websites helps spread the word about successful work environments. Customers and business partners will take notice. That awareness can help create new business opportunities, too.
• Assess, reward and improve: The results from the Top Workplaces survey can help assess the health of companies. They validate achievements, reveal problem areas and set a foundation for new goals.
• Boost recruiting: It helps attract and retain the best talent. Employees want to work at companies recognized as leaders that operate by a strong set of values.
• Earn public recognition: Achievements are recognized by The Washington Post.

“Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, founder of Energage. “The research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.”

Anyone interested in the 2021 program can submit at nomination at washingtonpost.com/nominate or call (202) 417-3866.

Bob Helbig is media partnerships director at Energage, a Philadelphia-based research and consulting firm that surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 7,000 organizations in 2019. Energage is The Washington Post’s research partner for Top Workplaces.