H&R Block can now claim it offers the happiest and most stress-free workplace around.
The tax preparation company came in No. 1 for employee wellbeing, according to the 2024 Work Wellbeing 100 from Indeed and the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre.
The index ranks the top 100 publicly traded U.S. companies where employees reported high levels of happiness, purpose, satisfaction, and low stress when prompted to take a survey while leaving a review of their employer on Indeed. And those high marks could be driving better business performance.
Indeed's ranking found that companies with higher work wellbeing scores also have higher valuations, returns on assets and profits. Collectively, the companies on the list outperform stock market indexes including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite, according to the report.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
The most prevalent industries on the list were retail, which appeared 23 times, and transportation, which was noted 14 times.
"A lot of these companies tend to prioritize work flexibility," says Kyle M.K., a talent strategy advisor at Indeed. Those policies allow employees to choose where, how and when they work, "giving them the option to go to doctor's appointments or soccer games or work from home if that's easier for them."
At a time when large firms are changing their policies and pushing workers to come into the office as many as five days per week, the Indeed report suggests that companies refraining from stricter mandates are winning favor among recruits.
Money Report
"Companies that provide choice are the ones that tend to have a much better reputation among their employees," M.K. says.
Leading the pack, H&R Block operates a hybrid workplace, with 42% of corporate staff working remotely full-time, the company's chief people officer told Human Resource Executive recently.
These are the top 20 employers on the list:
- H&R Block
- Delta Air Lines
- L3Harris
- Accenture
- Nike
- Tradesmen International
- Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
- Addus HomeCare
- IBM
- Amazon Flex
- Apple
- The Walt Disney Company
- Wipro
- Maximus
- Vans
- Cognizant Technology Solutions
- Dutch Bros Coffee
- Microsoft
- FedEx Freight
A majority of job seekers want to work for companies that care about their feelings at work, according to M.K., and Indeed's list spotlights the firms they may want to consider prioritizing in their job search.
"While work wellbeing has faced challenges in recent years, it's more important than ever for companies to create environments where employees can truly thrive," LaFawn Davis, Indeed's chief people and sustainability officer, said in a statement. "By prioritizing work wellbeing, companies cultivate a more resilient, effective and happier workforce which ultimately drives business growth."
M.K. encourages job applicants to take stock of their values when making decisions about where they will work, adding that it will help them find companies that are aligned with their "intrinsic motivations" and where they can perform well.
"We believe that everyone has the right to thrive at work and deserve[s] a workplace that takes care of them," he says.
Want to master your money this fall? Sign up for CNBC's new online course. We'll teach you practical strategies to hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.
Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.