Top Workplaces 2022: How the winners were selected

It’s no secret that employee loyalty is on the decline. It has been for some time, but the pandemic accelerated the trend.

This decline in loyalty comes at a tricky time for companies, many of whom are trying to lure workers back to the office while also bracing for a possible recession.

Our annual Top Workplaces report spotlights what companies are doing to recruit and retain the best employees while also cultivating loyalty. Strong leadership, a culture of collaboration and communication, and a commitment to helping employees advance in their careers are fundamental strengths that the companies in our report share. Some go a little further by offering generous perks, including free massages, education reimbursements and access to company-owned vacation condos.

How did we select the top workplaces?

On behalf of the Tribune, Energage of Exton, Pennsylvania, a workplace survey and improvement specialist, conducted a survey of nominated Chicago-area employers with at least 100 employees. Most of the surveys were conducted between April and July.

To determine the winners, Energage conducted a scientific survey. The Tribune did not pay Energage. The Tribune used news coverage as well as advertising to seek nominations. In total, 6,173 companies were invited to participate, compared with 4,702 in 2021. Of those, a record-breaking 313 companies completed the survey (296 last year), allowing Energage to identify the top organizations, divided into three categories: small (fewer than 250 employees), midsize (250 to 999) and large (1,000 or more), the same divisions as previous surveys. The surveyed companies collectively employ 160,124 people in the Chicago area, of which 159,925 received surveys and 76,041 responded.

[ [Don’t miss] Top Workplaces 2022: See the full list and read about the companies ]

Energage delivered the top results to the Tribune. The list of companies not designated a Top Workplace was kept confidential by Energage. The firm questioned employees using paper and online surveys.

Employees responded to a set of statements about their feelings toward their workplace, using a seven-point scale. The statements focused on issues such as leadership of the company, execution and connection. A numerical value was attached to each statement, allowing Energage to create an overall score for each company.

Afterward, Energage ran a series of statistical tests to look for any questionable results. The firm said it sometimes disqualifies a small number of employers based on those tests. The list is categorized by size because smaller employers tend to score higher than midsize employers, and midsize employers tend to score higher than large employers.