With a growing understanding of the importance of a healthy and productive work environment, companies are investing in strategies to improve their employees’ experience. The GPTW seal recognizes these initiatives, bringing various benefits—do you know it?
This certification is the result of an analysis that considers criteria such as employee perceptions of the company. Thus, the GPTW seal helps identify companies that offer working conditions geared toward attracting and retaining talent.
Read on to learn all about the GPTW seal and learn how to obtain this certification for your company!
What is the GPTW seal?
Created in the 1980s by journalist Robert Levering, the GPTW (Great Place to Work) seal is a certification that recognizes companies as excellent workplaces. This assessment is based on the experience of employees to identify good people management practices.
Companies seeking certification must undergo a process that includes a survey that assesses various aspects of the work environment. The focus is on employees’ perceptions of benefits, organizational climate , autonomy, compensation, and more.
It’s worth noting that the Great Place to Work consultancy operates in over 90 countries and analyzes over 10,000 companies annually. Its global reach includes over 10 million workers.
Despite this, there is debate about the seal’s relevance. One reason is that some certified companies have been involved in adverse situations, such as corporate scandals. In any case, the methodology employed can be useful in promoting a healthy work environment.
Benefits of Great Place to Work certification
GPTW certification can offer strategic advantages to companies, impacting both internal management and the company’s external perception.
Discover the main advantages of obtaining the GPTW seal!
Strengthening the internal environment
Certification fosters a cycle of continuous improvement in which employees feel heard and valued. Furthermore, it strengthens the relationship of trust between leaders and teams, contributing to more transparent management.
Attracting qualified professionals
Companies with the GPTW seal often stand out as preferred employers for talent in the market. This positive perception also increases the acceptance rate for job offers, helping to reduce the cost and time to hire.
Boosting company reputation
Having the GPTW seal signals ethical management and a focus on human capital. These aspects tend to attract stakeholders such as customers, investors, and business partners.
Reduction in turnover and absenteeism
High engagement in certified companies directly impacts talent retention, resulting in lower turnover . At the same time, workplace satisfaction is linked to lower absenteeism rates.
How to earn a GPTW seal for your company?
Given the importance of a GPTW seal, it’s worth understanding how to obtain it for your company.
Find out what the requirements are to achieve Great Place to Work certification!
Define and align organizational values
The foundation for a positive work environment requires the objective definition of values that will guide all company actions. These values must be communicated transparently so that all employees understand how they should behave and interact.
Furthermore, it’s essential that leaders model the application of these values in their daily lives.
Invest in people’s experience
To improve the employee experience, continually monitor the work environment. You can use tools like organizational climate surveys and regular feedback to help you make adjustments to company practices.
Develop leadership
Leadership development should focus on training that addresses both technical and behavioral skills, such as empathy and communication. Training helps leaders better connect with their teams.
Management should be aware of the various levels of team leaders’ knowledge and tailor their training plans to each level of hierarchy. In this manner, experts will receive the necessary assistance to grow in their profession.
Strengthen a culture of trust
This culture is developed by ensuring a secured environment where the ideas and concerns of employees can be shared without a fear of recirculation. In this regard, leadership openness is fundamental in ensuring management credibility.
For instance, open acknowledgment of the contributions of employees enhances their sense of belonging and appreciation. This helps in establishing a trust-positive loop among the managers and team.
Enhance organizational communication
Organizational communication must utilize channels which provide a two-way flow of information. This is critical because it ensures leadership messages are received and that ideas from employees are heard.
By establishing a culture of feedback , where the exchange of opinions is encouraged and seen as an opportunity for growth, it is possible to align expectations and improve collective performance.
Start the certification process
After making the necessary structural changes, a practical step toward obtaining the GPTW seal is to enroll the company in the Certification Journey. Management must then conduct the Trust Index survey among employees.
For the certification to be legitimate, the business must guarantee that at least 70% of the workforce completes the survey. They also have to fill out an organizational practices questionnaire, which will help with the final GPTW study.
You know what the GPTW seal is for and how to improve your chances of getting it. With this data, management can decide what needs to be done to make the workplace healthier, which will help recruit and retain talent.
