Prioritising People and Wellbeing: Inside the World's Best Workplaces

As Great Place to Work, in partnership with Fortune, unveils the much-anticipated World's Best Workplaces 2024 list, one thing stands out: a genuine commitment to their people. This year’s World's Best Workplaces have distinguished themselves through innovative and dedicated efforts to prioritise employees' needs and create a positive workplace culture, which is more essential than ever in today’s rapidly changing work environment. Here, we look at some notable examples of how leading companies recognised on the World's Best Workplaces list this year invest in their people's wellbeing — and why this commitment is fundamental to their success.

Conscious Culture and Inclusive Support: Cisco

Named one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland for the past eight years running, Cisco exemplifies an approach they call a "conscious culture," in which employee wellbeing and inclusivity are core pillars. Cisco's commitment to wellbeing begins at the top, with executives regularly engaging in open discussions about health, wellness, and life balance in their global all-hands meetings. This transparency fosters a safe space for employees to share their own experiences, creating a ripple effect that enhances wellbeing company-wide.

Cisco goes beyond typical benefits, offering unique “critical time off” policies, where employees experiencing personal crises, such as bereavement, are granted flexible leave to process and heal. Additionally, Cisco’s "Days For Me" initiative allows employees four extra paid days annually to dedicate entirely to self-care and personal fulfillment. By pre-scheduling these days, Cisco supports employees in planning meaningful breaks that refresh them, recognising the essential balance between work demands and personal life.

What's more, the #SafeToTalk initiative enables employees to connect openly with peers about mental health in a supportive, moderated setting. Through these efforts, Cisco addresses both personal and social wellbeing, fostering an environment where every employee feels seen, valued, and empowered to bring their full selves to work.

Holistic Wellness and Recharge Days: Cadence

Cadence Design Systems (Ireland) Ltd, also recognised as a Best Workplace in Ireland, Best Workplace in Tech and Best Workplace for Health & Wellbeing this year, sets itself apart by recognising the critical need for balance and recharge. Understanding that stress management and mental health support are vital, Cadence offers a 24/7 Mental Wellbeing Support Program for both employees and their families, providing six paid, confidential counseling sessions per year.

One of Cadence's most celebrated benefits is their Global Recharge Days — a company-wide shutdown where everyone, from executives to new hires, has a day to disconnect, unwind, and spend time with loved ones. This powerful initiative supports employees in recharging and prioritises their mental health, recognising that a refreshed team is a more productive and engaged team. Additionally, Cadence offers a Lifestyle Spending Account to encourage employees to invest in their personal wellness, covering expenses such as gym memberships and wellness programs.

Through these comprehensive wellness initiatives, Cadence is creating a workplace where employees feel supported in maintaining a balanced lifestyle, ultimately leading to greater productivity and job satisfaction.

Preventing Burnout and Promoting Balance: ServiceNow

The tech industry faces a well-documented crisis of burnout, which ServiceNow, a Best Workplace in Tech for 3 years running, addresses head-on through their People Pact, a commitment to help employees “live their best lives” within the company. Recognising the need for collective rest, ServiceNow has instituted six annual “wellbeing days” where employees globally take time off to recharge. This approach demonstrates the company's respect for employees’ individual needs and the importance of a balanced life. By implementing these company-wide breaks, ServiceNow empowers employees to prioritise their wellbeing without the usual workday pressures, reinforcing that taking time for personal wellbeing is essential, not optional. 

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Empowering Mental Health Awareness: Hilton

At Hilton, recognised for multiple accolades such as the Best Workplaces in Ireland, Best Workplaces for Health & Wellbeing, and Best Workplaces in Hospitality, fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture is a priority, exemplified by its Conrad Dublin property’s impactful initiative for Men’s Mental Health Month. Recognising the importance of mental health, especially for men who may often hesitate to seek support, Hilton launched an awareness campaign with a variety of team events in partnership with the Movember Foundation. Beyond raising funds, they aimed to spark open conversations and destigmatise mental health issues.

Some standout events included a 5K community fun run, a coffee morning for dads to discuss their experiences, and a stress-management workshop for employees to share coping strategies. They also held a “Gentleman’s Spa and Movie Day” to encourage relaxation and redefine masculinity in a nurturing environment. Through these activities, Hilton provided meaningful engagement, creating a culture where employees feel supported and valued. As the team at Hilton shared, “it’s more than just growing a moustache, it’s a conversation starter.” By embracing this approach, Hilton not only raised funds but cultivated priceless awareness that resonates well beyond the workplace.

These leading organisations demonstrate that prioritising employee wellbeing is not only about offering benefits — it’s about creating a culture that genuinely values the health and happiness of every team member. Great Place to Work and Fortune’s World’s Best Workplaces list is a celebration of these organisations’ commitment to employee-centered practices. By recognising the critical link between employee wellbeing and organisational success, these companies set an inspiring standard for workplaces worldwide. Prioritising employee wellness is not just a benefit but a strategic imperative that results in happier employees, stronger teams, and ultimately, more successful companies.

About the Fortune World’s Best Workplaces

Great Place To Work selected the World’s Best Workplaces by gathering and analysing more than 7.4 million confidential survey responses, representing the experiences of 20 million employees worldwide at Great Place To Work Certified organisations. Organisations are assessed on their efforts to create great workplaces and positively impact people and communities across multiple countries around the world. Companies must have appeared on at least five national Best Workplaces lists in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, North America, or Australia during 2023 or early 2024, and have at least 5,000 employees worldwide, with at least 40% outside of its headquartered country. Read the full methodology. To be considered, all companies use the Great Place To Work Trust Index™ Survey. 

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. We help organisations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. We recognise Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces™ in more than 60 countries.

To join the thousands of companies that have committed to building high-trust company cultures that help them attract, retain and take care of their people, contact us about getting Certified today.