100 Best Workplaces in Europe 2012

Great Place to Work^® has been analysing, understanding, selecting and publishing Best Workplaces lists around the world for 20 years, and we have produced a list of Europe's Best Workplaces annually since 2003. We believe that any company can become a great workplace, and this year, we have more than 1,500 companies - with 1.2 million employees - participating from 18 countries in Europe.

You’ll find three different 2012 European lists: a multinational companies list and two separate lists for the best workplaces in two size categories — one for organisations with 50 to 500 employees and one for those with more than 500 employees. To be eligible for the multinational list, a company must have appeared on at least three national Best Workplaces lists in Europe.

Despite the difficult economic environment across Europe, the 100 Best Workplaces lead the way in demonstrating that creating and maintaining a workplace culture based on trust is good for business. Key benefits include enhanced employee recruitment and retention, reduced labour costs and increased productivity and profitability.

Each of our 100 Best European Workplaces has already been recognised as a Best Workplace in their respective countries. What unites them across countries, economies and cultures is strong and visionary leadership and a commitment to creating the kind of workplace where employees trust the management, have pride in what they do and enjoy working with their colleagues. It is these motivated and dedicated employees who are more likely to support the organisation and help companies get through times of economic uncertainty.

The companies recognised as Europe’s Best Workplaces have established work cultures that set the standard not only in Europe but around the world. Many have achieved this in a number of different European countries in which they operate. This is a testimony to both the strength of the organisations’ leadership and consistency in workplace strategies across a number of different countries, cultures and economies. Against a backdrop of increasing uncertainty over the euro, more companies are recognising the importance of a workplace culture based on trust and the impact this can have on business performance; Indeed, our study of companies over the last 20 years shows that high-trust work environments are more successful in overcoming difficult times. Creating a great workplace is a powerful competitive tool, which is used by an increasing number of companies in Europe and around the globe.

Congratulations to all for this outstanding achievement. You are building a better society by transforming your workplaces.

 José Tolovi, Jr.

 Global Chairman of the Board