Ok, so I’m going to be pretty biased about this sort of thing, but after hearing repeatedly from those that work at Open Box (as well as a lot of those that either used to work at Open Box or would like to) that we are the “Best Company to Work For” I thought that it would be interesting to be seeing how we’d rank against others that are rated (supposedly independently).
First stop, www.bestcompaniestoworkfor.co.za, supposedly the definitive guide on these things. Much lauded by those on or near the top of the list as well as frequently referenced in the media, I would have thought that this would be a good source of these things.
How wrong I was to be.
Firstly this is run / sponsored by companies that have interestingly appeared fairly high up the list in the past. I have noted that the companies that sponsor a year aren’t on the list for that year, but that doesn’t mean that they weren’t the year before (or won’t be the year after). Independent then? No.
Secondly, and to my mind most importantly, it is not about the best companies to WORK for, but rather about which companies have the best HR department. Yes, the HR departments and their workings are what is examined. The happiness of the people who actually work there? That isn’t important it seems. I don’t know about you but if I was working for one of these rated companies (and I actually have in the past) I’d be more interested in the how the company fosters the happiness of the staff, the growth prospects for all personnel and so on, rather than the “role of HR policy in driving business strategy” or “their HR strategy success”.
The sad thing is that a lot of people get suckered into thinking that these are good (or the best) companies to actually work for, by things like this. Although I suppose if you are in HR they probably are.
I guess I just focus on different things. I’m ok with that.
Disclaimer: we have not entered into this so this is not sour grapes.
