For my reflection on 2025 Fortune Best Companies to Work for, I chose to examine Hilton, Cisco Systems, American Express, and Wegmans Food Markets in order to better understand what makes these companies such great places to work from an employee standpoint. For each of these four companies, it was apparent that employees feel valued, cared for, and trusted. These elements happen to align with our discussions in class regarding human resources.
At Hilton, there is a strong sense of a collaborative workplace environment infused with respect and inclusivity. This is no surprise given their HR focus on diversity, psychology of safety, and interpersonal relationships, which are fundamental to worker motivation and retention. Cisco employees speak to the importance of their company’s focus on mental health, flexibility, and authenticity. All this is reflected in course learnings concerning HR’s focus on worker well-being rather than just fringe benefits. At American Express, there is a unique focus on development opportunities, supportive management, and family-friendly benefits. This easily corresponds with HR principles relating to talent development, equity, and investing in workers. Likewise, at Wegmans, there is recognition of their family-like culture with excellent internal mobility opportunities.
Thinking about these companies has actually helped solidify in my mind what type of manager I would like to be in the future. I would like to be someone who helps build trust, develops employees, and provides a workplace in which employees feel comfortable being their whole selves. These types of HR issues, such as performance management, training, development, and programs related to employee engagement, which we have covered in class, will be a vital part in assisting me in becoming a great manager. But it’s also important for me to realize that being a manager is not going to be easy, particularly in regards to finding a way to make both the workplace and the employees prosper.