Big Tech used to rule 'best places to work' rankings. Now smaller companies are taking their crown.
Silicon Valley's tech giants are known for offering a deluge of office perks — anything from free meals to happy hours to ping-pong tables. But those perks don't mean as much as they used to, at least according to Glassdoor's "Best Places to Work 2020" ranking, announced Wednesday.
Facebook, which earned the top spot three times in the last 10 years, tumbled to the 23rd position in the latest list, and Google, a top-10 finisher for the last 8 years, came in at 11th place. Apple also sank to a low 84th rank from 71st, while Amazon didn't make it on the list at all (for the 12th year in a row, reports Bloomberg). Microsoft was the lone tech giant that managed to climb 13 spots, landing at 21st place, reports CNBC.
The overall decline in Big Tech's desirability likely stems from the "growing pains" of "public scrutiny," Amanda Stansell, a senior economic research analyst at Glassdoor, told New York Post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
After its Cambridge Analytica scandal last year, Facebook has struggled to recruit employees, observes CNBC. Meanwhile, internal polls at Google showed "fewer employees were inspired by Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai's vision than a year earlier," and employees have protested the search giant's "intimidation" tactics against worker organizers," notes Bloomberg.
The tech industry still nabbed the highest number of spots on the list, notes Forbes, but it was the smaller companies that reigned supreme.
A relatively unknown Massachusetts-based software company, HubSpot, snagged the No. 1 honor, by offering employees "unlimited vacation time," and a "five-year anniversary, four-week paid sabbatical with the equivalent of a $5,000 bonus," writes CNBC. DocuSign Inc. and Ultimate Software also outranked Big Tech's employee desirability, remarks Business Insider.
Glassdoor's full rankings can be found here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Ramisa Rob is a web intern at The Week. She is also an investigative reporting fellow at Brian Ross Investigates, and has previously worked for the The Daily Star. A recent graduate of the University of Michigan, she is currently pursuing her Masters at NYU Tisch.
-
Bonnie Blue, Andrew Tate and a new cult of sex extremism
Talking Point OnlyFans adult worker and male misogynist have 'plenty in common' claims commentator
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The UK's best exhibitions and shows to visit in 2025
The Week Recommends These are the most exciting events in the cultural calendar
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Decrepit train stations across the US are being revitalized
Under the Radar These buildings function as hotels, restaurants and even museums
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published