25 Best Global Companies to Work For

This year’s ranking of the best multinational employers from our research partners at Great Place to Work keeps Google at No. 1, but also welcomes newcomers Cadence at No. 21 and H&M at No. 24, and returnee Microsoft at No. 7.

EXPLORE THE LIST METHODOLOGY

The Top Ten

Google

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Information Technology

The tech giant is famous for great perks. But underneath those is a culture defined largely by caring relationships, employee autonomy and staffer's conviction that they are making history — whether that's through better information searches, self-driving cars or wearable devices. "I honestly believe we are helping make the world a better place," says a Googler in Switzerland. Or listen to what a Google Canada employee says: "Google has been incredible at allowing individuals to just try new things and experiment. This has given employees here in Canada a great deal of freedom and enjoyment in their roles. The perks are pretty incredible too." Notice they put the perks last. Read the Great Place to Work review.

SAS

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Information Technology

Data analytics software maker listened to employees in Germany who wanted to be savvier about social media technologies. So the company launched a "Social Summer" last year that not only offered training in the use of tools like Facebook and Twitter, but also resulted in more SAS Institute employees interacting directly with the public, including job seekers. Staffers also appreciate the company's internal site, The Hub. "Professional knowledge, a bit of gossip, discussions of private interests, the chance to meet international colleagues — The Hub provides all of this," says one German employee. "For me as a 'SASler,' this internal network has become a real virtual linchpin." Read the Great Place to Work review.

W.L. Gore

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Manufacturing & Production

Talk of "holocracy" and radically decentralized workplaces is the rage these days. But specialty manufacturer W.L. Gore has been flat as a pancake for more than half a century. Gore allows employees to form their teams based on the ability of individual employees to recruit peers to a compelling project. The maker of Gore-Tex fabric and Glide tooth floss also lets employees rank colleagues on their contributions to the company — a ranking that helps determine salary raises. Says one Italian employee, "Anyone who wants can contribute beyond their role in different contexts that definitely allows the company to save in terms of headcount, but also provides an important opportunity for personal growth." Read the Great Place to Work review. Also check out Fortune's story on W.L. Gore from the March 15, 2015 issue: At W.L. Gore, 57 years of authentic culture.

NetApp

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Information Technology

Once a month or so, the data storage specialist brings all new hires from around the globe to its global headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. or European headquarters in Amsterdam. The occasion is an orientation program dubbed Training On All Special Things, or TOAST. The day-long event includes sessions on NetApp's vision, culture, values and goals, and a chance to have lunch with CEO Tom Georgens and other senior leaders. Employees appreciate the approachable style reflected in the event. "All top executives are accessible and they listen and try to change things when needed," says a Canadian employee. "They believe that this culture will create more business and it does. Our customers feel this culture through happy employees." Read the Great Place to Work review.

Telefónica

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Telecommunciations

The mobile telecommunications recently launched an internal campaign dubbed "Be More," urging employees to "discover," "disrupt" and "deliver" as the firm seeks to move from being a service provider to a partner anticipating customer needs. In Argentina, a select group of employees called "Bishops" are charged with spreading the gospel of fresh thinking through activities such as creative workshops and an Innovation Week. Says Barney Quinn, Telefónica's global chief human resources officer: "One of the priorities of Telefónica is to promote the continuing education of our professionals since we operate in a very dynamic sector and our company has to constantly reinvent itself."

EMC

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Information Technology

As EMC pushes beyond its roots in data storage hardware, it is taking pains to bring employees up to speed on the "third platform" of IT — meaning the confluence of mobile devices, the cloud, big data and social media. The company's director for the EMEA region, Adrian McDonald, has a blog for internal and external consumption called "The Bigger Game" that discusses how EMC sees and is influencing the future of IT. "The unique feature of the Third Platform is that employees are increasingly directing the pace," he wrote recently. Indeed, EMC employees see themselves as among the pace setters. Says one: "EMC makes you feel proud — both in regards to the market position and the overall interest & responsibility to the world around us." Prior to the publication of this year's ranking, Dell announced it would acquire EMC. The results of the 2015 World’s Best list are based on EMC's global employee survey results.

Microsoft

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Information Technology

Microsoft is betting big on trust, autonomy and collaboration. For example, the company has expanded work-from-home options dramatically in recent years. Four years ago, about 40 percent of Microsoft employees in Argentina and Uruguay telecommuted. Now the figure is about 90 percent. And last year, Microsoft stopped ranking employees by performance, with the main criteria being individual accomplishments. Now Microsoft assesses individuals in three ways: their individual results and business impact; how much they contribute to the success of others; and how much their results build on the work of others. "The culture is great," says a Microsoft employee in Argentina who works alternative hours to help care for his kids. "I don't have to give any explanation to my managers, as long asIdeliver results."

BBVA

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Financial Services & Insurance

Spain-based bank with operations throughout Latin America has fostered a highly collaborative culture. Contemporary, cooperation-oriented workspaces are part of the reason why. In Venezuela, for example, BBVA places tables in open office settings for short, spontaneous team meetings, and restaurant areas are equipped with wi-fi and can be used for informal gatherings. These facilities are in addition to dedicated meeting rooms that can be booked online as well as "touchdown rooms" — small spaces where employees can communicate with others privately. Employees see the collaborative spirit coming from managers as well. Says an employee in Peru: "The bosses are visible and participants, regardless of hierarchy. There is a real meritocracy — here, if you work and strive you can make a career."

Monsanto

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Manufacturing & Production

The agriculture tech company takes employee safety seriously. In India, field-based employees driving to farmer clients in small towns and villages face poor roads and hazardous traffic situations. So Monsanto began a vehicle safety program more than a decade ago that outfits employees with air-conditioned Mahindra Bolero SUVs that include a fire extinguisher, safety hammer to break glass in an emergency, and a safety grill in the rear. To help safe driving practices trickle down to employees' families, Monsanto's India operations share testimonials in a monthly vehicle safety newsletter. What's more, Monsanto gave all India-based employees first-aid kits and training last year, which resulted in them providing first aid in 28 emergencies, such as road accidents they observed while traveling. Read the Great Place to Work review.

American Express

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Financial Services & Insurance

It's not all about money at American Express. Proof that the financial services firm has a heart was on display this June, when thousands of employees gathered at the New York Metropolitan Opera House for a memorial service in honor of deceased executive Ed Gilligan. The tribute also was broadcast live to offices ranging from Fort Lauderdale to Sydney. Gilligan began as an intern 35 years ago and became president in 2013, and speeches at the tribute remembered him as a champion of diversity, mentorship, and employee development. New York, Salt Lake City and Fort Lauderdale employee choirs closed the service with a Gilligan favorite, "Stand by Me." AmEx has that stand-by-me feel in general. Says an employee in India: "It's home away from home." Read the Great Place to Work review.