That approach helped leaders at Synchrony and AbbVie — ranked No. 1 on the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in New York and Chicago, respectively, for two years running — make decisions quickly, even as workplace expectations and technology keep changing.
“Listening isn’t something you do once in a while. At these companies, it’s constant — and it leads to action and a stronger business,” says Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work®. “Listening is how good decisions get made. Most leaders love to talk. The best ones listen at least as much.”
When employees see leaders act on what they say, they’re more likely to speak up, take risks, and keep the business moving.
The gaps between Fortune Best Workplaces in New York, Chicago, Texas, and the Bay Area and other workplaces aren’t about perks or policies — or nice weather. They’re about whether employees believe leaders are listening and doing something about what they hear.
“People don’t need perfection,” says D Crum, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at AbbVie. “They need to know their feedback matters and is considered.”
