CEO: 4 Keys to Being a Great Place to Work

What employer wouldn’t brag about making the Great Place To Work Best Workplaces list? In a presentation during the latest BambooHR Virtual Summit, Great Place To Work CEO Michael C. Bush said that distinction depends solely on what your employees say about your culture in his company’s survey.

According to Bush, companies that make the cut and achieve Great Place To Work certification outperform non-certified companies in the stock market by 9.2% – an equivalent of $4.1-$4.2 trillion of market value.

He said one thing that makes an employer great in his mind is if they’re intentionally doing something about the “E” in DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging). That is, equity in terms of:

• Representation: At all levels of the organization, people see others that look like themselves.
• Opportunity: As Bush put it, “If I work hard, live out the values of the company and take care of my teammates, I can get promoted just like anyone else.”
• Pay: People with the same level of proficiency, and doing the same work, making the same amount of money, and
• Well-being: Do employees feel the organization cares about quality physical well-being, mental health and financial health for them and their families? “When a person is having a positive well-being experience, they’re four times more likely to stay with the company. … They’re three times more likely to endorse … the company’s products and services,” he said.

Bush also shared core elements of Great Place To Work’s methodology that could inspire questions for your internal HR surveys that produce insightful answers.

Great Place To Work Must-Have: Trustworthy Leadership

Trust in a company’s leadership can be measured. Bush said there are 30 individual questions in the Great Place To Work survey dedicated to answering these three big-picture questions:

• Does the person you work for respect you?
• Do you feel your leader communicates with you in an honest way?
• Is your leader fair and equitable?

He also emphasized that it’s crucial for leaders to be good listeners.

Employee Pride in What They Do

Some questions to get a sense if your people are finding meaning in their work:

• Do you enjoy your work?
• Do you feel comfortable contributing ideas at work?
• Do you feel like you’re included in important work communications?
• Do you feel that your work helps the company achieve its purpose?

Camaraderie With Colleagues

“Just think about the power of a workplace where everybody in the company is trying to make things better for other people in the company,” Bush said.

Some possible questions for measuring team camaraderie:

• Do you feel a strong sense of collaboration within your team?
• Do you feel comfortable asking your co-workers for help?
• Do you feel like you can be yourself around your co-workers?
• Do you feel comfortable celebrating successes with your co-workers?
• Do you feel that your co-workers have your back?
• Do you feel respected by your colleagues, regardless of your position or background?

In case you missed it, we shared another expert’s thoughts on how to become Great Place To Work-certified.