As a client service firm, we spend most of our time helping other organizations engage and inspire their employees. But today we get to celebrate our own company, as the Chicago Tribune has just named Edelman one of Chicago’s top workplaces for 2011.
This is not the first time we’ve taken home employer of choice honors. Advertising Age and PR Week have recognized Edelman multiple times, and this year we were number 5 in Glassdoor.com’s Employees’ Choice Awards…right up there with engagement all stars including Facebook, Southwest Airlines, Bain & Company and General Mills.
Clients often ask if there’s a silver bullet for engaging employees – one magical thing they can do to help people feel connected to the company. Sadly, of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution – engagement is a combination of factors. It’s the same at Edelman. Yes, we do enjoy a variety of perks and benefits, such as ice cream every Friday and a snack cart that rolls down the hall twice a week. But free food alone doesn’t engage employees; how leadership treats people is critical. In our case, CEO Richard Edelman is incredibly well-respected; the Tribune quotes one employee describing him as “genuine, real, brilliant, empowering and beyond humble.” Richard was also named one of “America’s Favorite Bosses” by Glassdoor.com with an approval rating of 92 percent. Moreover, the firm is still independent, making Richard not just a CEO but an owner who is personally invested in our future. (Interestingly, three of the top five companies on Glassdoor.com’s list are private.)
No company is perfect – ours included – but it’s exciting to see the outside world recognize our culture of leadership and independence.
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