T.G.I Friday’s topped the 25 Best Big Companies list after receiving three unbeaten scores for employees feeling a strong sense of family (82 per cent) in fun (86 per cent) teams that they get a buzz out of working with (77 per cent).
Marriott Hotels International Limited was ranked the fourth Best Big Company after spending £1.6m on staff development last year. Employees claimed to love their job (77 per cent) and feel that work is an important part of their life (81 per cent).
In the Best 100 Companies list Red Carnation Hotels was ranked second and received a special ‘Most Improved’ award. The company gained six places in the rankings from last year, with employees giving it an overall positive score of 83 per cent, a 5 per cent increase on its 2013 result.
Jonathan Raggett, managing director of Red Carnation Hotel Collection, said that employees were vital to the company success.
He said: “We believe our service proposition is what sets us apart, that is our loyalty programme, and clearly it's our people who deliver that. If they're not happy or don't have a clear vision of what the company stands for, it falls down."
Half of the workforce has been with the group for at least five years and more than 90 per cent of managers, including Raggett, have been promoted from within.
Hawksmoor restaurants were ranked 12th on the Best 100 Companies list, up nine places from the previous year.
Oakman Inns were a new entry at number 28, with 81 per cent of staff saying they felt proud to work for the company.
Wyboston Lakes ranked 35, up from 69th place last year. Eighty per cent of workers say they found their job interesting.
New Inventive Bar Company placed 78th, up six places. The majority of its young staff (68 per cent) are on zero-hours contracts but they feel they are treated fairly (70 per cent) and are happy with their pay and benefits (62 per cent).
Las Igunanas was a new entry in 86th place. No members of staff were on a zero-hours contract and 61 per cent are happy with their pay and benefits.
Hotel and catering trainers HIT Training was ranked 88th. Though 90 per cent of staff said they cared about the success of the company, 50 per cent said they felt under pressure and the company was ranked lowest for staff wellbeing.
Restauranters Corbin and King were another new entry at 97th place, with 83 per cent of staff saying they felt proud to work for the company.
The results were collected by Best Companies from over 1.5m employees who were asked to rate their feelings about company managers, leadership, prospects for growth, colleagues, well being, how engaged they were with the company, pay and benefits and whether they felt their organisation had a positive impact on society.
The employment practices of hospitality businesses have hit the headlines recently after research revealed 53 per cent made use of zero-hour contracts and a number were ‘named and shamed’ in a list of employers failing to pay workers minimum wage.
For available jobs in hospitality take a look at our jobs board, BigHospitalityJobs.