The 2 Best CG Companies to Work for in 2020
Whether it’s from curiosity or jealousy, Fortune’s annual Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list draws interest for its ranking of the best pot-sweeteners in the quest to attract (and keep) talented employees.
Teaming with culture-management solutions provider Great Place to Work, the list is determined via anonymous online employee surveys, with 85% of the evaluation based on what they say about trust and reaching their potential.
Their experiences are subsequently analyzed relative to an organization’s size and workforce makeup, as well as what’s typical for an industry and region.
Finally, Fortune and Great Place to Work take associates’ daily experiences of a company’s values into consideration, as well as leader effectiveness and the ability to contribute new ideas.
Companies that wish to be considered must employ at least 1,000 people in the U.S., and they must submit an application that describes their HR practices by documenting 200-plus data points.
In somewhat disappointing news for the consumer goods industry, just two CG companies made this year’s list: W.L. Gore & Associates and Mars.
Material science manufacturer W.L. Gore captured the No. 83 spot for its low turnover rate (just 3%), in part made possible by the company’s lattice org structure. Under this framework, associates have the flexibility to move between teams and set their own commitments.
“More than 60 years ago, our founders began building a workplace that empowers people to make a positive impact in the world,” said W.L. Gore CEO Jason Field. “They recognized the innate potential in all human beings and fostered a highly collaborative environment where associates openly share ideas, help each other grow and feel a strong sense of ownership for Gore’s success. Today we strive to build on their dream and unleash the natural curiosity and talents of our Associates to create products that improve lives.”
The company, which manufactures such materials as Gore-Tex, is based in Newark, DE, and employs over 7,760 workers across 37 locations. It’s been on the Fortune list for 21 of its 23 years, though it failed to place last year.
Mars, meanwhile, squeaked on to the list in the No. 98 spot, holding steady from the same locale in 2019. The $35 billion privately owned food and pet food manufacturer was cited by Fortune for its tuition support and history of employee tenure: About 35% of Mars employees have reported for duty for over a decade.
Of note: Mars’ Sandeep Dadlani was named CGT’s CIO of the Year in 2019. He joined the company in 2017 to replace the exiting chief information officer, taking on the expanded role of chief digital officer.
“Our associates are making a difference for people, pets and the planet — that's what inspires me every day," said Anton Vincent, president of Mars Wrigley North America. "I'm proud to celebrate our Associates for playing such an important role in helping to create a better tomorrow and thankful that once again Mars is celebrated as a top employer in the U.S."
This is the eighth consecutive year that Mars has appeared on to Fortune’s list. The company employs nearly 14,500 people in 67 locations, calling McLean, VA, its HQ home.
See which retailers made the 2020 Top 100 Best Companies to Work for List (Hint: It’s more than two.)