Fun Places To Work: Top 10 Cool Brands for 2023

Are you finding your office too dull for, or do you pep-talk yourself into going to the office every morning? If that's the case, you probably need a scene change and find yourself some fun places to work with an office that is fun, productive, exciting, and motivating.

The myth is that professional corporate brands do not have enough fun at work. We can guarantee that this is far from the truth. Some of the most successful companies have a high fun rating while achieving all their goals.

In this article, we've compiled a list of the most fun places to work. From companies with unique office spaces to those with a relaxed and casual atmosphere, from cutting-edge technology companies to innovative fashion brands, there's something for everyone.

So, keep reading to learn more about their cool, innovative cultures and exciting work environments. Without delay, let’s discuss the top 10 companies that fall under this category and how they’re implementing the “fun” work culture.

10 Cool Companies to Work for

1. Google

Source: Entrepreneur Middle East.

For ages, Google has been the benchmark for companies to measure a fun work environment. The tech giant’s work culture is undoubtedly one of the most unique.

For example, Googlers (the name given to Google employees) aren't restricted to cubicles with gray walls and dim lighting, which means they can work wherever they like. Employees can choose to work in cafeterias, lounge areas, beanbags, or wherever they please.

Despite long work hours and a lot of problem-solving, Google offers a variety of perks to motivate its employees. Some of them are

• Free food
• Nap pods
• Fun games
• Physicians at work
• Hybrid workdays
• Financial assistance

Furthermore, employees who come up with innovative ideas are rewarded by the company. A creative environment is always fueled by incentives--creating a constant flow of fresh ideas.

Apart from this, the Google headquarters in California, US, is compared to some of the best resorts in the country.

Employee review (AmbitionBox):

“Working in Google is God's gift, World's biggest company Google, always stay from their employees. No one can ever beat Google. I was very happy to work at Google as Technical Program Manager.”

Source: Comparably.

2. Apple

Source: Telegraph India.

In 2021, Apple won 5 awards from Comparably. Out of those, one was “Best Place to Work in the Bay area.”

Do you know why?

Technology and innovation are not the only things developed in the Apple headquarters. The brand also develops creative ways to motivate its employees and encourage them to build new technologies.

Apple has a unique way of building team motivation while keeping the “fun” factor alive at work. Steve Jobs believed the power of teamwork and hence fun at Apple also takes place through inventive ideas.

The company does not believe in hierarchy. Hence, employees have full autonomy to bring out their propositions.

Most reviews by employees who have worked at Apple circle around the words “Interesting,” “Fun,” “Productive,” and “Friendly.” There’s no doubt that Apple pays its employees well. Still, additionally, it also provides many perks like

• Vacation and lots of leaves,
• Ability to buy Apple stocks,
• Parental leaves,
• Unique health programs
• Gym Credits,
• Retirement plans.

3. Zappos

Source: Zappos

Zappos is a retail company based in Las Vegas, US. With 23 years of excellent customer service, the company's core values are creating fun, learning, and a “little weirdness.”

With a 4.7 Glassdoor rating in employee benefits, the company pays a good amount of attention to the well-being of its employees.

Some fun perks provided by Zappos:

• 40% discount on their products!
• Monthly outings
• Nap rooms
• Wellness services in the workplace
• Free food

Zappos takes one step further in maintaining their culture. New employees are offered $3,000 to quit their jobs if they do not align with the culture. They’re given an option to stay with the company or leave.

Company culture boils down to happiness at Zappos.” - Trakstar Hire.

4. Wegmans

Source: Wegmans.

Wegmans has satisfied its employees consistently for the past few years. The company follows a “Employees first, customers second” policy. Various independent sources have rated them as one of the best and most fun places to work.

Wegmans achieved the #1 rank on PEOPLE’s 2021 list of ‘Companies That Care.’ This list highlights companies that care for their employees and their communities. Wegmans was on this list for five years.

It is one of the few companies in the retail industry to have an attrition rate below 7%. As part of the company's open-door policy, all employees are encouraged to speak with their leaders about any concerns or stressors.

Some perks their employees enjoy:

• Paid holidays
• Flexible working hours
• Training reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Casual atmosphere

“We’re honored to rank #1 on the Best Workplaces in Retail list for the 7th consecutive year. Thank you to our people for making Wegmans a great place to work and shop.” - Wegmans LinkedIn.

5. GoDaddy

Source: azcentral.com.

It is about creating a culture where we say, "Look, write your experiment and hypothesis, and then have a peer take a look at it." We have a very systematic approach at GoDaddy. Every experiment must have an observation, a hypothesis, a test of the data, the results, and success criteria. Every month, every experiment is shared with anyone in the company who wants to see it.” - Aman Bhutani, CEO of GoDaddy. (June 2022 issue of Entrepreneur).

GoDaddy is a domain registering and website hosting company founded in Arizona, United States. The company focuses largely on customer experience and daily experimenting with new ideas.

How do they manage to keep up the employee morale with such strong work principles?

• Team-building activities (indoor and outdoor)
• Holiday outings and picnics
• Free lunch and vending machines
• Godaddy cares about community service
• Health coaching programs

The atmosphere was always bordering on electric! There were team building events almost on a daily basis, and everyone celebrated everyone else's successes.” - Employee review, Indeed.

6. NVIDIA

Source: Twitter update.

Nvidia is a graphics card company in California, United States. Over the years, the company has grown from creating realistic video game graphics to exploring Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning.

The success stories of the brand result from its great work culture and the value it puts on its employees. Most people who have worked for the company have declared that they have a stress-free and fair working environment.

Along with good pay, the company provides

• A refreshment area
• Board games
• Quizzes
• Video games
• Pool table
• Generous vacation time
• Flexible work hours

Coming to work every day can get boring after a point. Nvidia made sure its employees had something to look forward to, i.e., having fun at the office.

There is a lot of flexibility regarding work timings and choosing your work. As long as your work is completed, no one bothers you. One can talk to their manager and move horizontally across different teams or works.” - Santosh Arjun Nuthanaganti (Worked at Nvidia).

7. Adobe

Source: Adobe.

In 2021, Forbes listed Adobe in the “America’s Best Employers” list. The company managed to achieve the 27th rank on the list. When asked the reason behind this achievement, their answer included phrases like “people-based approach,” “happy employees,” and “comfortable and excited.”

Apart from the basic insurance and health benefits, workers at Adobe get some unique fun perks like

• Parental leaves
• Free meals
• On-site gyms
• Sabbaticals
• Free snacks all-day
• Free drinks
• Pet insurance

Our people and culture make us who we are, and this past year our team’s dedication, passion, and resilience have helped us achieve this incredible recognition, which I’m hugely grateful for,” -Lee Edwards, Vice President, UK, Middle East, and Africa, Adobe.

8. Flipkart

Source: Flipkart Stories.

An Indian company that originally started as an online bookstore is now one of the most successful start-ups in India. With the new e-commerce website, Indian consumers have been introduced to the concept of electronic retail in competition with Amazon.

Flipsters empower the #CultureOfPeople and believe in caring for one another. The company has been recognized by various sources as one of the best places to work in India. Flipkart tops the LinkedIn list of the best companies to work for in India for the second consecutive year.

Some fun perks enjoyed by Flipsters:

• Free food (all meals)
• A full pantry throughout the day
• Special leaves for birthdays and anniversaries
• Flexible work days (including Work from home)
• Work-life balance support
• Retirement benefits

9. Chick-fil-A

Source: Mashed.com

Chick-fil-A is known for its cutting-edge customer service. What is less known about them is that they also maintain a healthy and happy environment among employees.

Culture is the soul of an organization.” And every company has a culture, whether leaders consciously mold it or not. - Dee Ann Turner

The brand focuses on team collaboration and encourages employees to take up scholarship opportunities to help them gain management skills and experience. Some perks enjoyed by Chick-fil-A workers are:

• Free Drinks
• Free meals during duty
• Discount Coupons
• Paid vacations
• College scholarships
• Flexible hours

Flexible schedules, fun co-workers, and chicken!” - Employee Review, Indeed.

"While working at chick fil, they gave us great benefits such as free food, free game day tickets, tuition reimbursement, & at the end of the workday, you can take whatever food it left” - Employee Review, Indeed.

10. McKinsey & Company

Source: McKindsey Careers.

McKinsey follows the motto “Work hard, play hard.” Despite being a consulting firm, the company incorporates enough “fun” elements into its culture to have motivated and happy employees.

They have various programs and policies supporting their employees in times of need. Apart from the basic healthcare plans, they have other unique approaches:

• Take time: Taking time off to pursue other dreams
• Ramp off, ramp on: Designed for mothers to transition from womanhood to motherhood.
• Part-time work models: Opt for part-time work ranging from 50%-90% as required.

“We organize monthly sporting events, ranging from curling to mountain biking to biathlons. We have cultural events, such as movie nights. We dedicate significant time to non–profit and charity work to help the underprivileged community in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.” - McKinsey Careers.

In McKinsey, talented individuals come from a wide range of backgrounds and locations. Nearly all aspects of life at McKinsey are governed by McKinsey's own customs, lingo, and values. The culture in the company revolves around a problem-solving approach while keeping enough room for individual creativity and growth.

Moving Ahead

The top ten fun places to work not only guarantee employee satisfaction and productivity, but also empower your mental health by keeping you happy. By choosing to work at one of these places, you can expect to be challenged, inspired, and fulfilled, both professionally and personally.

Getting an offer from the above list of companies won’t be an easy job. Working in these companies could be an addition to your dream job list. However, their perks should make you realize what you deserve as an employee. We should stop settling for the bare minimum in our jobs and grab what we’re worth.

Moving to a company that incorporates a good work culture and environment should be a professional goal for you. Although it may not seem like a prime concern now, you shall reap its benefits in the long run.