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The best places to work in 2020 and what the companies have in common

When it comes to where they want to work, employees care about their company’s mission and culture more than the money and benefits it offers.

The shift in workplace priorities has fundamentally reshuffled the rankings of Glassdoor’s 100 best places to work for in 2020. Fewer tech companies grace the top tiers of employers as they did in the last four years, while smaller, more mission-driven companies are breaking into the top 10.

“Company culture is no longer nice to have; it's essential,” said Amanda Stansell, senior analyst at Glassdoor. “They all have a really clear mission that connects employees’ daily work to a broader social purpose and positive change in the world around them.”

Modern glass offices and reflections at Moorgate in the City of London, England, United Kingdom. As London's financial district grows in height, the architecture has changed, with many different companies occupying the various floors and levels. (photo by Mike Kemp/In PIctures via Getty Images)
More than half of job seekers prioritize mission-driven and culture first workplace than pay and benefits. (Photo by Mike Kemp/In PIctures via Getty Images)

One of the major changes is how workers now prioritize culture over cash.

More than half of adults see company culture as more important than salary when it comes to job satisfaction, according to Glassdoor’s mission and culture survey. Four in 5 candidates consider a company’s mission before applying for a job, the survey also found.

An outstanding work culture also can pay off financially, too. It has been linked to better financial performance of companies in a 2015 report by Glassdoor. Additionally, candidates can now peek into an employer’s everyday environment, thanks to workplace review sites, and have a better understanding of what it’s like to work at a specific company.

“In the past few years, it's been a really tight labor market,” Stansell said, “and job seekers are in the driver's seat.”

Other employer associations institutions have noticed this shift as well. In the 2019 Business Roundtable of nearly 200 CEOs of major U.S. companies, a new mission statement included employees as a focus for the first time.

Top 10 places to work in 2020

In the past four years, the top 10 best workplaces have been dominated largely by tech companies. This year, there are only three. Google and Facebook did not make the top 10 in 2020, after being frontrunners in previous years. The number of tech companies in the top 100 have also decreased from last year.

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 7  -   Commercial real estate giant CBRE and Deloitte (pictured) are both among the companies that are taking a modern approach to offices with new Toronto facilities that are supposed to spur productivity among staff who are no longer necessarily tied to a particular desk.        (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
The number of tech companies in top 10 has been going down in the last four year. Overall, tech companies are representing a third of the 100 best places to work. (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

At the same time, companies like Intuitive Surgical, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and VIPKid –which broke into the top 10 for the first time – all have missions like improving education, health, or national security.

Here are the 10 best places to work, according to Glassdoor. Company ratings are based on a 5-point scale: 1.0 is very dissatisfied; 3.0 is OK; and 5.0 is very satisfied. Actual calculations extend beyond the thousandth decimal place.

1. HubSpot

Company Rating: 4.6
Industry: Software
Mission: “We believe businesses can grow with a conscience, and succeed with a soul.”

2. Bain & Company

Company Rating: 4.6
Industry: Management consulting
Mission: “We're guided by True North, our unwavering commitment to always do the right thing by our clients, people, and communities.”

3. DocuSign

Company Rating: 4.6
Industry: Software
Mission: “Since its inception in 2003, DocuSign has been on a mission to accelerate business and simplify life for companies and people around the world.”

4. In-N-Out Burger

Company Rating: 4.6
Industry: Food service
Mission: “Serve only the highest quality product, prepare it in a clean and sparkling environment, and serve it in a warm and friendly manner.”

5. Sammons Financial Group

Company Rating: 4.5
Industry: Insurance
Mission: “Our goal is to protect the future of your families or your businesses, so you can enjoy life's moments today.”

Modern glass offices at Moorgate in the City of London, England, United Kingdom. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)
Companies like Intuitive Surgical, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and VIPKid are making the top 10 for the first time. (Photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)

6. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Company Rating: 4.5
Industry: Research
Mission: “Strengthening the United States’ security by developing and applying world-class science, technology, and engineering.”

7. Intuitive Surgical

Company Rating: 4.5
Industry: Robotic surgery
Mission: “We believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.”

8. Ultimate Software

Company Rating: 4.5
Industry: Software
Mission: “Deliver unified, end-to-end HCM cloud solutions [...] to improve the personal work experience for you and your people — the power behind your business.”

9. VIPKid

Company Rating: 4.5
Industry: Teaching
Mission: “Inspire and empower every child for the future. In order to do this, we have embarked on a better way to teach foreign languages.”

10. Southwest Airlines

Company Rating: 4.5
Industry: Transportation
Mission: “Dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit.”

This article was originally published on Yahoo Money.

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