Cisco Systems

RANK1

The company that makes much of the gear powering the Internet tops this year’s list after dealing with the pandemic better than most. When the world started shutting down, Cisco delayed already announced layoffs and extended pay and benefits for affected workers. Cisco also continued to pay hourly employees even when office shutdowns kept them from coming to work. Placing a focus on employee well-being, Cisco ramped up communications, expanded benefits and access to mental health services, and provided multiple “Days for Me” for employees to step back and recharge. Long known for its community engagement, Cisco created a website to help remote students and donated unused videoconferencing gear to bolster telemedicine offerings at local medical facilities. “The attention that the executive team pays to the health and welfare of the surrounding community is extraordinary,” one employee notes.