The best companies to work for in 2017

It looks like the perfect opportunity for your next job move, but you just cannot figure out if the company that just made you an excellent offer is really worth jumping ship for. If you’re after a safe bet, then look no further than our list of the best companies to work for around the globe, based on the Best Places to Work 2017 report by Glassdoor. Here we take a snapshot of five countries:

United States: consultancies are key

In the United States, Bain & Company tops the list of best large companies to work for, according to the website’s members. The consulting firm has been in the top five since 2009 and came out top for the second year in a row. Glassdoor members highlighted its focus on professional development, good working culture and benefits offered.

In second place was Facebook, with reviews praising the work environment, "brilliant colleagues" and benefits including free food. Like Bain, Facebook has been a top five performer for a number of years.

Boston Consulting Group was in third place, with reviewers highlighting the management consultancy as a workplace where employees learn a lot over a short period of time.

Google’s work environment and benefits put it in fourth place, while World Wide Technology came in fifth on the back of its dedication to work-life balance, culture and strong core values.

United Kingdom: tech rules

In the United Kingdom, travel portal Expedia topped the rankings as the best place to work for the second year running. Again, work environment and benefits – especially travel – set Expedia apart as an employer.

In second place was ARM Holdings, which was acquired by Japan’s Softbank in 2016, with reviews lauding its good company culture, flexible working policies and subsequent work-life balance.

Home emergency-repair service, HomeServe, takes third place for the second consecutive year, largely thanks to a pleasant working culture, customer focus and a senior management team that empowers staff.

For engineering company Mott MacDonald, in fourth place, the perceived perks included varied projects and the prospect of working around the globe.

Recruitment experts Hays complete the top five, with reviewers pointing to its "work hard, play hard culture", supportive team and training programmes.

Germany: homegrown global players dominate

In Germany, it's the German-based business software giant SAP that comes out as the top employer. Its offerings include generous benefits, task variety, nice company culture and above-average pay.

Sport clothing manufacturer Adidas, another German-based company, comes second – again on the back of staff benefits and an international working environment.

In third place is engineering and electronics company Robert Bosch, one of the country's largest manufacturers of automotive components, but best known for its washing machines, fridges and other white goods. The long-established German giant is highly rated for its corporate culture, flexible working policies and the development potential it offers staff.

Rounding off the top five are management consultancies Deloitte (highlighted as a great company for career starters) and Accenture (rated for offering staff projects that are both interesting and international in scope).

Canada: flexibility flies

E-commerce platform Shopify leads the list of best employers in Canada, followed by software company Ceridian and ATB Financial, an alternative provider of financial services. In fourth and fifth places are Salesforce and Cisco Systems respectively. Across all five, reviewers consistently mention flexible working, a good working environment and a wide range of benefits.

France: where local meets global

Software giant Microsoft emerges as the top-rated employer in France, with reviewers highlighting the excellent career-development opportunities the company offers. Second is line is the DIY chain Leroy Merlin, which is rated for its "humanity" as well as the value it attaches to qualities such as initiative and entrepreneurship. This sort of value system is also highlighted by employees at sports equipment chain Decathlon, which comes third. Airbus comes fourth, buoyed by the advantages that a large, established organization offers, such as good benefits, workplace perks and leisure activities. French multinational oil company Total rounds off the top five and is described as a company that is mindful of its employees, offers a good working culture and varied opportunities.

Different countries, similar priorities

In spite of the wide geographical spread of countries and employers, what the rankings reveal about workers around the world is how similar their values and aspirations are. To most, perhaps unsurprisingly, monetary reward is not all. Just as important are meaningful work, task variety, professional development and a healthy work-life balance.