HR Practices From The Best Companies to Work For (2020) - J.Dodge Caudle

In 2025, Great Place To Work developed a list of the 100 best companies to work for as an employee.  This blog post will highlight 3 companies from that list and the human recourse management techniques used to place them on this list.  Additionally, I will provide personal management goals and discuss challenges managers face during operations.

Wegmans:

Wegmans Food Markets is a grocery store chain based out of Rochester, New York.  Today, the company has 111 East Coast supermarkets with 53,784 employees.  Wegmans is a “values-based family company” that is focused on helping people live health lives by providing great food.  Not only are the customers a part of this vision, the employees are also considered.  91% of employees say that Wegmans is a great place to work.  “When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.”  36% of the employees at Wegmans work for the company for at least 6 years.  Wegmans provides as “personal’ work experience, allowing all employees to take pride in their work and feel welcome in the company.

Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI):

REI is the largest outdoor co-op in the United States.  Since it was founded in 1938, the company has worked to inspire experiences and provide excellent customer service.  Currently, 13,941 U.S. based employees work for REI.  88% of these employees say that REI is a great place to work.  “When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.”  REI is a very supportive company that provides satisfying work to their employees.  This allows for all employees to follow the mission of the company, and enjoy doing it.  REI is a values based company that promotes employee well-being and inclusivity within their work force.

Delta Airlines:

Delta is one of the most prominent Airline companies in the United States.  The company provides over 4000 flights daily, and has 104,811 employees to support operations.  87% of employees say that Delta is a great place to work.  The company supports a healthy and community based work culture that motivates all employees to provide excellent customer service.  “I feel good about the ways we contribute to the community.”  Delta promotes inclusivity in their company, making nearly nearly all employees feel welcome.

Personal Management:

I would like like to be a manger that is respected by my subordinates, and set an example though my own work.  I feel the best managers are the hardest workers and some of the most personal people within a company.  I want to be a manger that is easy to communicate with and that provides everyone with any necessary support.  Personally, the most challenging part of being a manger is understanding employees though people-related data.  In a large company, data is necessary to understand employees but is much less personal compared to face-to-face collaboration.  Creating practices and making decisions with the human-based data would be even more difficult.  To me this seems like a generalization and something that may not always be effective.  However, it is necessary and the most efficient and effective option within a large company.

Sources Cited:

Work, Great Place To. “Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI).” Great Place To Work®, www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1000409. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.