Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., is a privately held American supermarket chain; it is headquartered in Gates, New York. As of May 2021, Wegmans has 106 stores in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions.  Founded in 1916 in Rochester, Wegmans has appeared on Fortune’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list since the list first appeared in 1998. In 2020, the company was ranked at number three on the Fortune List of the Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2020 based on an employee survey of satisfaction.

For the 24th straight year, the supermarket chain was named to the 2021 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. This year, Wegmans was named No. 4 on the list.

What makes working at Wegmans so great?

According to employees surveyed by Fortune, “there’s a lot of love and caring” at this 100-year-old family-owned grocery chain. Workers claim it’s the “small things that make a difference,” like free hot chocolate in the winter for anyone working outside in the cold.

A quick look at the stats and employee comments reveal further insights that employers could learn from.

For example, here are a few things that employees praised about Wegmans:

  • Great managers. Ninety-three percent of employees surveyed said that “management is honest and ethical in its business practices.” Ninety-six percent said they had “great bosses” and 97 percent claimed to benefit from “great communication.”
  • Positive culture and working environment. Ninety-eight percent of workers called the workplace a “great atmosphere,” while 95 percent said the facilities contribute to a good working environment.

Additionally, rewards programs provide praise, thanks, and recognition for “work anniversaries, developmental goals, and acts of service for helping others,” and even allow employees to reward colleagues for “living company values”–with $5 coupons for prepared foods at the store.

  • A listening ear. And bias for action. Wegmans claims to invest in various programs that put employees’ ideas into action, encouraging workers to contribute to decisions that improve their work and benefit the company.
  • Flexible scheduling. Employees praise the flexibility they have in finding the right schedule, and the company offers telecommuting for certain positions.
  • Necessary tools and resources. Ninety-six percent of those surveyed said they are given the resources and equipment to do their jobs.

“We believe this makes our work more fun and more meaningful, whether a cashier, chef, accountant, or baker,” said the company in an official statement.

  • Employee development. The company invests more than $50 million annually in training and development, which includes providing management trainee and leadership development programs, department universities, workshops, and certification programs.
  • Wegmans offers health insurance for qualifying part-time employees, 100 percent company-paid health coverage for dependents (for full-time employees), and fairly generous paid-time-off benefits.

According to wegmans.com ; 13wham.com and thriveglobal.com. Source of photos: internet