The modern workplace is changing rapidly, and PR agencies and communications leaders at brands and nonprofit organizations must adapt to provide the best benefits and opportunities to attract and retain the best talent. On Nov. 29, PR News celebrated those organizations that have gone beyond mere adaptation at its 2017 Top Places to Work in PR dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York. Workplace culture and the recognition that employees are people first, and PR pros second, ruled the evening.
Among the criteria the judges for the Top Places to Work in PR considered: growth opportunities, the quality of communication with senior leaders, benefits and compensation, turnover rate, workplace culture, flexibility of working hours, career development and training, mentoring opportunities, diversity at the managerial level, gender equality and opportunities for volunteerism.
Many of last night's winners shared common ideas about how to create the best work environments for communication professionals. From generous vacation time and paid parental leave, to pet-friendly workplaces, these companies keep their employees happy. Another important aspect of the evolving workplace is making diversity of all kinds a reality instead of a talking point. A few trends stood out: Several of the winners, upon accepting awards, talked about training for unconscious bias, paid family leave, respecting young talent as people rather than green hires, fighting ageism in the workplace and, most importantly, creating a healthy and fun workplace culture.
In her keynote presentation, Carrie Kerpen, CEO and co-founder of Likeable Media, shared some lessons from her upcoming book "Work It: Secrets for Success From the Boldest Women in Business." Her most important takeaway for attendees: "Culture eats strategy for lunch. If a strategy doesn't fit with your core values, it's not worth it."
Keynote speaker Carrie Kerpen kicks off our Top Places to Work in PR Awards Dinner! 🥂🍾#PRNews pic.twitter.com/v1OCwMcJPK
— PRNEWS (@PRNews) November 29, 2017
In keeping with the lighthearted spirit of the evening, the Top Places to Work in PR celebration spilled over onto Twitter.
We're honored to be named a #PRNews Top Place to Work in #PR for the third year in a row thanks to all of our incredible H+Kers. Congratulations to all of the teams celebrating tonight! 🍾 pic.twitter.com/GfSFzKlFcN
— H+K Strategies US (@HKStrategies_US) November 30, 2017
Congrats to my dear friends @SHIFTcomm! Here’s to values-based organizations. #PRNews TopPlacesToWork @PRNews pic.twitter.com/HWdMznkke8
— Nicole Bestard (@nicolebestard) November 29, 2017
Honored to be at the @PRNews Top Places to Work in PR Awards with @StephSweetRHI representing @roberthalf Corporate Communications tonight. Lucky to be part of this team. pic.twitter.com/mYKQpe38oo
— Jennifer Popovic (@JennPopoRH) November 29, 2017
Shhh...we're picking up some hardware tonight on behalf of our amazing @AxonComms colleagues. We'll share more pictures later alongside our @SHIFTcomm peeps @PRNews #PRNews pic.twitter.com/35mjVAxQ54
— Mario Nacinovich (@nacinovich) November 29, 2017
See profiles of all of PR News' 2017 Top Places to Work in PR .
Here is the full list of PR News' 2017 Top Places to Work in PR, in alphabetical order:
- AbbVie Inc.
- Affect
- Aflac
- Allstate Insurance Company
- APCO Worldwide
- Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
- Astellas
- AXON
- Beehive Strategic Communication
- Bell Helicopter
- Cashman & Associates
- Cohn & Wolfe
- Cone Communications
- Cramer-Krasselt
- Davies
- DEVENEY
- DEVRIES GLOBAL
- Dixon Schwabl
- Finn Partners
- FleishmanHillard
- Foundations Recovery Network
- GCI Health
- General Motors
- Hill+Knowlton Strategies
- Hitachi Data Systems
- HP Inc.
- Hunter Public Relations
- INK Communications Co.
- InkHouse
- J Public Relations
- Kaplow Communications
- Ketchum
- Kohnstamm
- Lippe Taylor
- Litzky Public Relations
- March Communications
- Marina Maher Communications
- MSL
- MWWPR
- Peppercomm
- Porter Novelli
- Robert Half
- Ruder Finn
- S&P Global
- SAP North America
- Schneider Electric
- SHIFT Communications
- Southwest Airlines
- Stone Ward
- Syngenta North America
- The Thomas Collective
- TogoRun
- Union Pacific
- VSC
- W2O Group