What separates great workplace cultures from the rest? Gallup has studied millions of employees around the world to answer this very question.

We've found that regardless of company size, location, culture or industry, the very best organizations all share one undeniable trait: They have an intense and intentional focus on engaging their employees.

That focus means more than administering a survey once or twice a year. While measurement is important and necessary, great workplaces know that engaging employees requires real strategy and commitment. They don't simply promise a culture of engagement; they deliver on it.

Great workplaces have leaders who make engagement a priority -- as a competitive point of differentiation -- and who communicate openly and consistently. They hold their managers accountable -- not just for their team's measured engagement level, but also for how it relates to their team's overall performance. They have well-defined and comprehensive development programs for leaders and managers, and they emphasize the development of individuals and teams.

Great workplace cultures treat employees as stakeholders of their future. They put their attention on concrete performance management activities, such as clarifying work expectations, getting people what they need to do their work, providing development opportunities and promoting positive coworker relationships. As a result, their employees create more and better work, stay with their organization longer and win the best customers for the future.

Recognizing and Celebrating the Best

Creating and sustaining a great workplace is no easy feat. Gallup research shows that worldwide, just 16% of employees are engaged in their jobs -- they are highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work and are psychological "owners" who drive performance and innovation to move the organization forward. A staggering 84% of employees are either not engaged and detached from their organization or -- even worse -- are actively disengaged, potentially feeling resentful and acting out their unhappiness.

Organizations that set themselves apart deserve to be recognized and celebrated. Gallup is pleased to honor 37 leading organizations as the recipients of our annual Gallup Great Workplace Award. These organizations average 14 engaged employees for every one actively disengaged employee, which is nearly seven times the rate in the U.S. and more than 15 times the rate for workforces globally.

The Gallup Great Workplace Award, now in its 11th year, recognizes organizations that achieve performance excellence through cultures of engagement. Gallup has continued to create high-standard criteria to apply for the award, ensuring that winning organizations represent some of the world's best workplaces. To be considered for the award, organizations must meet the following minimum criteria:

• administer an employee engagement survey to at least 50 respondents representing a census of the organization
• receive a high, qualifying response rate
• receive a qualifying score on Gallup's Q¹² employee engagement survey

Organizations that meet the minimum criteria are then invited to apply for the award by submitting detailed evidence of their commitment to and advancement of employee-centric performance excellence. A panel of Gallup judges reviews and scores all submissions.

Leaders of the winning organizations understand that engaging employees drives real business outcomes, and they have mastered strategies and tactics to create cultures of engagement. Each award recipient has integrated engagement in four key areas: strategy and leadership, accountability and performance, communication and knowledge management, and development and ongoing learning.

This Year's Winners

Our award winners represent a wide range of industries and countries and set a high standard for what the world's employees can achieve. It is our pleasure to share the 2017 list of Gallup Great Workplace Award winners:

• ABC Supply Co., Inc.
• Adventist Health System
• Alliant Credit Union
• Assurity Life Insurance Company
• Bajaj Auto Finance
• Bon Secours Health System
• City of Centennial
• Compassion International
• DTE Energy
• Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company - du
• Fifth Third Bank
• Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools
• Hawai'i Pacific Health
• Health Catalyst
• Hendrick Health System
• Hyatt Corporation
• Indus Towers Limited
• Iowa Donor Network
• KinderCare Education
• Kootenai Health
• Mars Inc.
• Mary Lanning Healthcare
• Mashreq
• Nationwide Insurance
• NFU Mutual
• Northwest Farm Credit Services
• PNC Bank
• PT. Bank Central Asia, Tbk.
• Unity Health Insurance Corporation
• Regions Bank
• Self Regional Healthcare
• Stryker Corporation
• Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces
• Tech Mahindra Business Services Ltd.
• USAA
• Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group
• WSFS Bank