A common denominator is putting people first, Michael O’ Malley, managing director at Pearl Meyer, writes for HBR. O’Malley collaborated with Bill Baker, who wrote “Organizations for People,” in conducting the research that focuses on the 21 organizations.
The 'putting people first' mindset for some companies, including Health Catalyst and BAF, meant taking extraordinary steps to address their employees’ needs. “Health Catalyst helped one employee build a controlled living environment for their newborn child who was born with a rare immune deficiency,” O’Malley writes. “And when an employee at BAF was in a terrible auto accident, the company moved them from a third-floor apartment to a first-floor one in the same building, placing possessions just as they had been before and providing technology to stay connected during the recuperation process. (The employee had only been working there for a short period of time).”
Other common traits include helping workers find and chase their passions, allowing employees to own their work and allowing workers to be themselves.