How to Build a Dream Company

A Dream Company is one in which employees are able to be

successful in all areas of life, leading to much more

powerful outcomes for employees and employers than any job

alone can offer. Being a Dream Company is about more than just

having a positive image. It generates solid and dependable job

satisfaction, productivity, and retention returns, too.

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Introduction

We launched our Dream Company research to explore how people see

their work and their organization. We wanted to tap into the passion

people have in their day-to-day work and determine what drives it.

To do so, we measured drivers of Dream Jobs and Dream Companies. As it

turns out, working for a Dream Company has a larger positive impact on employees than working in their Dream Job.

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Dream Company

BENEFITS OF BEING A DREAM COMPANY AND TIPS TO HELP

GET THERE

Dream Companies Care About Employee Well-Being

Did You Know?

People in Dream Companies are

14% more likely to have

high health satisfaction.

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Make the right choice the easy choice. Support employees in finding time to exercise during the day, and if

your company offers snacks and beverages, stock lots of

healthy options.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

Working in a Dream Company

means lower stress. People at

Dream Companies are

less than half as likely to

burn out.

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Understand where your employees are in terms of work and life,

and the challenges they face. Just assessing this sends a message

to employees that you care and want to help. Once you

understand where your employees are, create an informed response that will help you change the outcomes.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

Those in Dream Companies feel

free to do their job the way it can

best be done (82% vs. 50%) and have opportunities for input on

matters that affect their work

(82% vs. 46%).

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Quick Tip

Where possible, provide employees with autonomy over their work. Having control over work is a key component

of well-being. High work demands paired with low work

control has been shown to double an employee’s risk of

cardiovascular mortality.1

11 1 Kivimaki, et al., Work stress and risk of cardiovascular mortality: prospective cohort study of industrial employees.

Dream Companies Provide Opportunities to Learn and Grow — and Impact Business

Results at the Same Time

Did You Know?

Dream Companies have better

talent retention. Only 13% of

people in Dream Companies

considered looking for a job “often”

or “very often” during the previous

month, compared to 52% of

people not in Dream Companies.

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Help employees understand and play to their strengths as often as possible, and match them with a

manager who truly cares about the effects that work demands

have on their personal lives.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

More employees in a Dream

Company report that their work was of the highest quality as compared with those

not in a Dream Company (73% vs. 44%).

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When employees feel successful in all areas of life, they’re able to bring their best to work every day. This can

mean better focus and higher productivity, which leads to an

improvement in the quality of their work.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

36% more employees working in a Dream Company

enjoy work and feel inspired compared to those not

working in a Dream Company.

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Inspired employees give their all and are motivated by the

knowledge that their efforts make a difference. Make sure your

employees know the impact of their work on the

organization and its purpose.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

In a Dream Company,

43% more people feel

their organization provides them

with opportunities to learn and

grow in their careers.

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Coach managers to have transparent discussions with their direct reports regarding career

aspirations and the competencies needed to achieve their goals.

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Quick Tip

Dream Companies Promote Work/Life Balance — and Use Smart Benefits Strategies to Do So

Did You Know?

Dream Company employees report

having nine non-core benefits on average, including

flexible work, child care, elder care,

paid parental leave, educational

advising, and wellness.

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A rich portfolio of non-core benefits support employees with responsibilities outside of work and demonstrate that you value your employees as whole

people.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

88% of employees have

experienced a major life event in

the last six months. Members of

this group average experiencing

three major life events in the

last six months.

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Survey your employees to determine and understand the challenges they face in their lives both in and outside of work. When adding new benefits

or changing existing ones, always map back to these

challenges to communicate that the changes are in response to

employee requests.

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Quick Tip

Did You Know?

Employees in Dream Companies

are more than 3 times as likely to say that they

“enjoy work so much that it feels like play”

as opposed to those not in

Dream Companies.

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Data show increased usage of non-core benefits, indicating a virtuous circle between their impact and

the culture that provides and encourages their use.

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Quick Tip

Learn more about understanding where your company is on its path to becoming a Dream Company.

Visit brighthorizons.com/solutionsatwork or email clientservices@brighthorizons.com.