As graduation draws closer and the job market beckons, I find myself searching for the perfect workplace. Does such a place exist? How can HR help create such a workplace? As I read through “Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work”, I selected three workplaces to examine further.
First, I looked into Delta Airlines. According to the Forbes article, “What Can We All Learn From Delta’s Culture,” Delta’s excellent customer service stems from how Delta takes care of their staff. Delta has a profit-sharing plan which is one of the most generous in corporate America. The article writes, “Delta employees receive 10% of the company’s first $2.5 billion in annual adjusted profits, plus 20% of anything beyond that threshold. For 2024, the total bonus pool was $1.4 billion, and the average employee took home more than $5,000.” Delta employees report that since the company takes great care of their employees, they are able to take care of their customers. This HR strategy uses compensation, rewards, and employee benefits, to ensure employee retainment and engagement. Compensation, rewards, employee benefits, and employee retainment and engagement are all HR functional areas identified in Lecture 1 – Importance of HR Management.
Then, I looked into Cisco. I read an article called “Research shows this company benefit reigns supreme. Cisco is a case study in how.” The company benefit utilized by Cisco’s HR was fostering volunteer opportunities and matching employee’s charitable donations. This HR strategy boosts employee mental health, as well as employee retention, engagement and productivity, which is an HR functional area identified in Lecture 1 – Importance of HR Management.
Finally, I looked into Hilton, which Fortune named the “number one workplace in the world”. In an article interviewing Hilton’s Senior Vice Principle and Global Head of Talent, Christine Maginnis, Maginnis says, “People are at the heart of hospitality, and we know that when you take care of your team members, they will in turn take care of our guests driving exceptional service and strong business results.” Hilton invests in developing its employees through high school completion and college degree support. They also use AI training programs to help team members practice guest interactions and problem-solving skills. According to Lecture 1 – Importance of HR Management, training and development are key functions of HR. When training and development are optimized, employees feel empowered to perform well in their jobs.
If I were a manager, I would prioritize taking care of my employees because, as shown by Delta, Cisco and Hilton, prioritizing employees creates a positive workplace environment, while also boosting customer service, workplace performance, and employee retainment. For me, I think the most challenging aspect of being a manager would be denying employee requests for sick leave, maternity leave or things of a similar nature. For this reason, I would want to work for a company with similar values as myself.
Works Cited
Georgescu, P. (2025, October 13). What can we all learn from Delta’s culture. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergeorgescu/2025/10/13/what-can-we-all-learn-from-deltas-culture/
Great Place To Work. (2025). Hilton named No. 1 on the World’s Best Workplaces 2025. https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/hilton-no-1-worlds-best-2025
Greenfield, B. (2025, April 2). Research shows this company benefit reigns supreme. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2025/04/02/best-companies-to-work-for-volunteer-hours-cisco/
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