Today’s jobseekers are looking to work in organisations with distinct company cultures. It’s no coincidence, then, that some of the most successful companies in the world have invested time and effort into cultivating a welcoming, positive environment and a strong brand.
Indeed, to attract the best and brightest talents, companies need to be able to offer their potential candidates more than just monetary gain. And these 20 companies are doing just that.
Read on for our list of some of the best examples of company culture.
1. TourRadar
The leading online travel agency for multi-day tours is dedicated to helping both its customers and employees book meaningful travel experiences. Indeed, life at TourRadar comes with a lot of perks, from daily foosball games to monthly team outings and Beer Fridays to dog-friendly workplaces and free trips! But for TourRadar, great culture isn’t just about offering the best benefits; it’s also about cultivating an environment of collaboration, shared responsibility and innovation.
2. Netflix
Netflix’s culture is described by freedom and responsibility. For Netflix, a great workplace consists of a ‘dream team in pursuit of ambitious common goals’ rather than cheap thrills and shiny perks. It expects its staff to strive for excellence and work as a team to achieve the best results they can. Nonetheless, employees love the sense of trust and flexibility that they have, as the company encourages its staff to take the initiative and create their own work schedules.
3. Starbucks
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The coffee giant is strongly committed to inclusion, diversity and equity. Indeed, regardless of their role, all Starbucks employees are referred to as partners in order to form a sense of unity. Beyond in-store discounts and free coffee and tea, Starbucks partners have their pick on stock options, tuition support, health insurance and even a crisis fund and, on some occasions, these benefits are also available to part-time employees.
4. Highspot
Highspot is another great example of company culture. The fast-growing startup puts a lot of emphasis on its people and strives to create a collaborative spirit and a sense of community among its workforce. As for the benefits, Highspot staff are spoiled with flexible hours and vacation days, healthcare coverage, and extended parental leave – not to mention company outings, lunches and even cooking classes!
5. Airbnb
Airbnb’s motto ‘Belong anywhere’ isn’t limited to its customer base. Indeed, the online lodging marketplace strives to create an environment where all its employees can find their place. Airbnb has its very own employee experience team that oversees workplace environment, communications, celebrations and events. Its staff get the complete Airbnb experience too, as the company offers travel coupons that allow its employees to come in direct contact with their work.
6. Adobe
Adobe is a company that goes above and beyond to give employees challenging projects and also provides trust and support to help them meet those challenges successfully. While it offers benefits and perks like any modern creative company, Adobe’s is a culture that trusts that its employees will strive to do their very best work. Employees are also given stock options so that they know they have both a stake and reward in the company’s success.
7. Costco
Costco sees its people as the driving force to its success. The company puts emphasis on the wellbeing of its workforce by ensuring that they receive above average wages, health benefits and opportunities for career advancement. Internal collaboration is another element that can be attributed to the company’s success, as employees are encouraged to work together and form strong bonds that result in a better working environment.
8. IKEA
IKEA believes that values can only come from the heart. This belief has helped shape an organisational culture that focuses on humbleness, equality and simplicity. The Swedish furniture retailer strives to create an inclusive environment by encouraging employees to go by a first name basis and work as a team in order to achieve the best results.
9. Facebook
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Facebook’s success hasn’t caused the company to forget the importance of keeping their employees happy. Indeed, they have an excellent organisational structure where they give employees the opportunity to grow and better develop themselves. If you are driven, you’ll be given plenty of responsibility; employees love this, as they get to see their work change the ever-popular social media platform.
10. LinkedIn
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The networking company is committed to making LinkedIn a space that its employees enjoy working in. Although perks like on-site gyms, free food and carefully designed offices are certainly helpful in that mission, LinkedIn’s success is rooted in its values. Indeed, its culture is built on five pillars: transformation, integrity, collaboration, humour and results. By consistently investing in its people, the organisation has managed to give its workforce a sense of unity and ownership that motivates everyone to do their best work.
11. Zoom
When it comes to company culture, Zoom goes the extra mile. Zoom facilitates a supportive environment through all-hands meetings, community projects and volunteering. The video communications company even has its very own happiness crew that is tasked with running events, outings and volunteering opportunities for its team. Zoom strives to create a fun working environment for everyone, and its offices are well-equipped with games rooms, wellness spaces and areas that facilitate different work styles.
12. Intuit
Intuit has a simple yet effective motto: ‘Do the right thing’. The IT company’s core values focus on positivity and integrity, while its culture is built around diversity. Intuit believes that its employees’ diverse life experiences are a source of power, as they can enrich the company with new, innovative ideas. By offering a flexible work schedule, on-site activities and development programmes, Intuit is focused on helping its workforce prosper and advance their careers.
13. Zappos
Zappos only hires people who align with their core values. In fact, the online retailer is known for offering $4,000 to new hires who leave if they don’t think they’re suited for the role. Zappos doesn’t make this an easy choice, though; free lunches, a company library, a nap room and free healthcare are just a few of the perks it offers employees. More importantly, its no-door policy and top-to-bottom approach allow a transparent working environment which enables its workforce to be productive and autonomous.
14. Shopify
The online shopping platform defines culture as ‘the sum of every single individual at Shopify’. The company is famous for their peer-review system called Unicorn, where employees can praise each other over their achievements - sort of like a virtual high-five. Apple gear, health insurance, gym memberships and catered lunches are just a few of the perks staff get to enjoy. Meanwhile, the company encourages employees to partake in volunteering opportunities and develop a team spirit through meaningful work.
15. SquareSpace
For SquareSpace, communication is at the core of its culture. This is implemented by an open line of communication across all organisational levels, all-hands meetings, informal communication networks and open, collaborative spaces. SquareSpace’s culture isn’t short of luxury, either, as employees can enjoy free daily lunches, in-office cafes and even iced coffee on tap!
16. Mars Inc
Throughout the years, Mars Inc has remained loyal to its five principles of quality, efficiency, responsibility, mutuality and freedom. Their employees have the option to work flexible hours, bring their pets at the office and collaborate in a family-oriented setting. Mars Inc also offers several learning programmes through Mars University, encouraging its employees’ professional development.
17. Salesforce
The cloud computing pioneer has a great company culture; indeed, their CEO Marc Russel Benioff has set a well-known ‘Ohana’ value, where everyone is seen as an equal part of the Salesforce family. Volunteerism is also a key part of their corporate culture, as employees are encouraged to choose a non-profit organisation they feel strongly about and volunteer for them for seven working days of the year.
18. HubSpot
For Hubspot, a thriving company culture is defined by a clear set of values such us adaptability, empathy, transparency and humility, to name a few. To ensure this, the digital marketing firm has introduced a no-door policy to remove communicational barriers across its team. HubSpot also places emphasis on its workforce’s personal development, and employees have access to masterclasses, tuition reimbursements, nutrition workshops and unlimited vacation!
19. Twitter
Rooftop meetings, yoga classes and free meals are just a few of the benefits that Twitter employees enjoy. What’s more important, however, is the collaborative and team-oriented environment that allows its workforce to stay inspired and driven by the company’s goals and objectives. Indeed, Twitter’s staff stay motivated because they have the chance to work with individuals who share the same work ethic.
20. Google
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This list would not be complete without this tech tycoon; indeed, Google’s corporate culture has led modern companies by example ever since its founding. With millions of CVs received every year, Google only hires the best of the best, and its employees are spoiled with perks including free gourmet meals, gym access, dog-friendly work settings and employee trips – not to mention the rewarding salaries, bonuses and excellent corporate policies put forward by the company.
Company culture isn’t just about perks and benefits. Although these can certainly boost employee morale, they cannot create a unified workforce. Indeed, a common element in all these examples is that they have a unique vision. In order to achieve this vision, however, staff need to be motivated by the right objectives. It’s crucial, then, for employees to have freedom, flexibility and ownership over their work.
Can you think of any other companies with great company culture? Let us know in the comments section below.
This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published on 27 October 2017. It was written in collaboration with Joanna Zambas.