Mars Earns Spot on Fortune's Best Workplaces List
MCLEAN, Va. — For the fifth consecutive year, Mars Inc. has been named to Fortune magazine’s annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list.
This year, Mars ranked No. 50 on the list, rising a whopping 49 slots from No. 99 in 2016.
"Creating a great place to work has to start with offering an environment of respect and inclusiveness where associates can be themselves and thrive," said Mars Inc. CEO Grant F. Reid. "On top of that, we need to be agile in addressing the changing ways business gets done and the evolving needs of the talented people we hire."
To identify the "100 Best Companies to Work For" each year, Fortune partners with Great Place to Work to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, according to the magazine.
Two-thirds of a company's score is based on the results of the Trust Index Employee Survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. This survey asks questions related to employees' attitudes about management's credibility, overall job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The other third is based on responses to the Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs, and diversity efforts.
At Mars, 89 percent of employees say their workplace is great. The company scored particularly high in "great pride," "great rewards" and "great atmosphere" according to employee ratings. Additionally, 96 percent of employees said that they are proud to tell others where they work.
Company perks include: free snacks and beverages during the day; fitness classes; personal travel service; dry cleaning; subsidized lunch a regular, daily basis; discount ticket sales; subsidized public transportation; and on-site package/mailing serivce.
Among programs offered by the company are: the Mars Volunteer Program, a worldwide initiative that allows associates to make a difference in communities where the company operates and sources products; the Mars Ambassador Program, which helps associates develop skillsets and build partnerships worldwide; and Make the Difference Awards, which spotlights individual associates and teams who bring to life the Five Principles of Mars.
"At Mars, we look for people who have an entrepreneurial spirit — people who relish taking on big responsibilities and who are agile and bold when tackling challenges," Reid said. "We believe in team collaboration as a way to get work done, while being committed to individual development as principled leaders."
McLean-based Mars Inc. has more than 25,000 U.S.-based associates serving the Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience segments. Across the U.S., 12 percent of associates have grown their careers at Mars for more than 20 years.