This article is the responsibility of Great Place To Work®
It was the year 2000, when Portugal discovered, for the first time, its Best Places to Work. This ranking distinguished companies for the excellence of their work environment, perceived by their employees, and highlighted their ability to impact people and contribute to the construction of a better society.
In a retrospective analysis, we see that this ranking was a real blow to the water, not only because of its innovative nature (there was no recognition of this type at the time), but also because of the transformation it represented in work. market, placing employees at the center of organizations. Assumed as a starting point of change in companies totally focused on business and financial growth, where the employee was seen as a “resource” or a “commodity”, for companies totally focused on the employee and valuing their experience, becoming seen as an essential piece and support for the success of the company.
This change of mindsetwas only possible through the conclusions and perspectives from our studies, which show, every year, that companies that promote a strong, authentic culture and an environment of trust outperform the market in all business metrics. In 2024, the Best Workplaces will register with respect to the market:
This awareness has seen an increase in the number of companies consistently providing a positive experience for their employees. This growth led to the emergence of the Great Place to Work Certification, based on a global methodology recognized in the market. It should be noted that we currently have around 200 companies with active certification. And it was reflected in the perception of employees, who felt greater concern from leadership, both professionally and personally.
- 85% of employees in 2024 perceive genuine interest from leadership, compared to 69% seen in Best WorkplacesTM in 2000 (+16pp).
2008 Best Companies to Work For Winners
Employee engagement also increased, evidenced by the increased response rate on Best Places to WorkM.T.in 2000, from 78% to 85%, in 2024. The confidentiality that characterizes us also made employees increasingly trust our questionnaire and our platform to express their opinion, whether positive or negative. This security also translated into an increase in participation in the surveys, if at the beginning it was 71%, this year it was 82%. And it cannot be ignored that we have already heard the voices of around 620,000 employees during these almost 25 years.
It is through the contribution of employees that we produce and publish, in an open and transparent manner to the market, year after year, our reports, studies and articles. It is through the response to our questionnaire that the main characteristics of work environments are identified and the main trends in the labor market are “found”. We also present the most common and most differentiating people management practices of Best WorkplacesTM, since they are examples of excellence in the care of their people and should be seen as a benchmark in our market.
Study report on the best places to work in Portugal
These contents, in addition to being inspiring, strengthen our knowledge and expertise so that we can continue to support organizations in creating or maintaining excellence in their work environment.
Almost 25 years have passed and many things have changed. It has changed the way we live, work and relate to others. And it changed the idea of what it means to be a good place to work. In the early years of the list, the concept of a good place to work was closely associated with large multinational companies in the Lisbon metropolitan area, which offered above-average salaries and had a strong name in the market. This definition has changed, especially because being an excellent place to work is the cause of a good reputation and not a consequence, as can be seen in the 2024 data in the following graph.
Size, fame or origin are no longer a barrier that separates the best from, let’s say, the rest. In 2024, the Best WorkplacesTM ranking included companies from different sectors:
- dimensions: A total of 10 companies are recognized in each dimension. There are 5 dimensions: <50 colaboradores.; 51-100 colaboradores; 101-200 colaboradores; 201-500 colaboradores; >500 employees;
- sectors: 15 sectors of activity were represented;
- location: 30% of the companies are based in the north, highlighting that their influence and area of activity (many times through offices, stores, work) extends to the entire national territory.
- origin: more than half are national companies;
As it has been more than proven that any company can be a Best WorkplacesM.T..
Best Places to Work Event 2024
Another difference is the importance given to salary and benefits. Balancing personal and professional life, with more autonomy and freedom, has become a greater attraction than remuneration. The balance between personal and professional life is, post-pandemic, the main reason to remain in companies, going beyond the opportunities for growth and development and alignment with the organization’s values. Remunerations and benefits only occupy 4th position. As a consequence, practices associated with increasing quality of life and promoting well-being (for example, flexible hours, teleworking, greater number of vacation days…) are now among the Best Places to Work.M.T..
Much has changed, but the foundation for creating a great place to work has not and will never change: creating an environment of trust. And after almost 25 years it seems that the Best are even better, which reflects the effort and work of the organizations, supported by our knowledge and methodology. And it reaffirms the idea that listening to employees is worth it. According to the 2000 ranking, the Best Places to WorkM.T. record:
The more trust there is in work relationships – between leadership and team, between colleagues, between leaders – the greater the autonomy and, consequently, the greater the commitment and satisfaction. And trust is guided by transparency, which requires good communication and alignment between everyone.
Cândida Morais, CFO, and Maurício Korbivcher, CEO of Great Place To Work® Portugal at the Best Places to Work in Information Technology awards.
Culture is, therefore, the pillar that supports the whole. Companies that value purpose in their culture, strong and unique, adapt more easily and quickly to the changes that mark our days. Practices change, resumes change, but values remain firm and strong, which means these companies know how to choose the best team (and the best talent wants to work here) to achieve success, no matter what the obstacles. They lie ahead.
The best (the best places to work)M.T.) are even larger, but not in size, but in importance. And they should be seen as a reference for all organizations, as they are examples of how to promote a consistent and extremely positive employee experience and an environment marked by trusting relationships.
Take advantage of the last opportunity of the year to be part of the Best WorkplacesTM community in 2025 and join our celebration of 25 years in Portugal.
Discover the benefits of participating in the study and begin your recognition journey now.
Source: Observadora
