Employer Brand Rankings: June 2022

Every month we’ll look at how employers are representing themselves, who’s behaving, and who’s misbehaving. We’ll start at the bottom of the barrel with the baddies and work our way up to the goodies.

Bottom of the barrel

4. The Washington Post

The Washington Post wants employees to work in the office at least three days per week. It seems not everyone is complying. In a recent memo, the Post threatened employees with “disciplinary action” if they don’t follow the rules. We get it, employers will set rules not all employees will like, but before you threaten disciplinary action, try to figure out why folks don’t want to return and address those reasons first.

3. Netflix

Netflix has laid off another 300 hundred people. In May, the company laid off 150. Netflix said in February that it was down 200,000 subscribers this year and expected to lose 2 million in Q2. If the trend continues, more heads may roll.

2. Amazon

More Amazon employees are alleging wrongful termination. This time, it’s two workers in Prince George’s County, Maryland, who say they were let go after they gathered signatures for petitions and encouraged other employees to participate in a March 2022 walkout. This is not the first time Amazon has been accused of retaliating against unionizing workers. Our guess is that it won’t be the last.

1. Literally all of crypto

Lol crypto, it’s been a rough month. From hackers stealing 100+ million to the general skepticism that comes along with launching a new currency - imagine giving a credit card to a fur trapper back in the day and expecting the finest of beaver pelts in return - the industry and financial institutions within it are scrambling to save face.

Cream of the crop

6. Stephen Colbert

Seven staff members of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert were arrested at the U.S. Capitol building while filming a remote. The Late Show employees had been given permission to be there, but it seems they overstayed their welcome and were taken in. Colbert has, of course, publicly defended the staff.

OK, maybe sainthood isn’t required to back your own employees, just common decency, which is why I’m ranking it the bottom of the top. The inclusion of this story is, however, definitely influenced by the fact that I have a very Catholic crush (ritualistic and shame-filled) on Mr. Colbert.

5. Rolls Royce

Employees of Rolls-Royce in the UK are about to get checks for $2,500 (£2,000). The company is hoping to offset inflation and help out its employees. Raising wages would make a longer-lasting impact, but if someone handed me a check for $2,500, I’d take it.

4. City of Austin

The City of Austin has raised the minimum wage for city employees from $15 to $22 per hour. To be clear, this is not a living wage, but as a minimum wage, we’ll take it.

3. JP Morgan 

JP Morgan is laying off hundreds of employees from their mortgage division and reassigning hundreds more as a result of shrinking demand for home loans. High interest rates, inflation, you know why. 

You probably expected to see this one at the bottom of the barrel, but let’s be thoughtful. The downturn in the housing market is not the fault of JP Morgan. Layoffs suck, but the bank are reassigning some mortgage division workers to other departments and helping others find jobs in their subsidiaries. 

P.S. An hour after Roe v. Wade was overturned on the June 24, the company said it would pay for employees who need abortion care to travel to states where it is legal.

2. Walmart

Walmart will now reimburse the cost of doula-assisted births for its employees. This kind of medical care isn’t always covered under traditional medical plans, but for Walmart workers, it is now! We love choice.

1. Yelp

Yelp’s CEO Jeremy Stoppelman hates hybrid work, which he called, in an interview with The Washington Post, “the worst of both worlds” and “the hell of half measures.” Stoppelman said the company is closing its offices in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and reducing office space in Phoenix. Yelp just wants its people to work remotely. 

Stoppelman’s preference for all-remote isn’t just his own, his employees back it too. He told WaPo that 85% of Yelp workers prefer remote work most or all of the time, and only 1% of them are going into the office every day. He also pointed out that it’s expensive for employees to work in cities like NYC and it’s expensive for the company to maintain those offices as well.

We’re glad a CEO is talking like a real human being. 

Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza writes about workplace culture, DEI, and hiring. Her work has appeared in Fast Company, From Day One, and InHerSight, among others.

ABOUT UNCUBED STUDIOS

Launched in 2016, Uncubed Studios is a full-service creative agency with a client list representing the most influential employers on earth along with the high growth tech companies.

The team that brings the work of Uncubed Studios to life is made up of award-winning experts in cinematography, journalism, production, recruitment, employee engagement, employer branding and more. 

Interested in speaking with Uncubed Studios? Email us at studios@uncubed.com