Delta has climbed to the top of Forbes’ 2022 list of the World’s Best Employers, leading all airlines in the new rankings published this week. Delta was recognized as thesixth best workplace in the world by Forbes, the highest-ranking company outside of the tech sector.

“Our people are our most worthy investment,” said Joanne Smith, Delta’s E.V.P and Chief People Officer, in a recent essay on the airline’s commitment to its people-focused culture. “When we’re recognized by an institution like Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers for 2022, it’s a meaningful affirmation of the ways we listen – and act – when our people share with us their unique needs and goals.”

Forbes ranks employers in its annual list based on data from independent surveys of 150,000 full-time and part-time workers at major companies from 57 countries. The respondents to the anonymous surveys conducted by market research firm Statista were asked to evaluate their employers on a range of topics such as talent development, economic impact and image, gender equality, and social responsibility. The surveys also asked whether participants were willing to recommend their employer to family and friends.

Perspective

People

How Delta turns employee feedback into people-focused action

E.V.P. and Chief People Officer Joanne Smith explains the evolution of Delta’s people-focused culture and the airline’s commitment to continuously improving the employee experience.

Taking care of Delta people

During the pandemic, Delta delivered unprecedented support to protect employees’ health and wellbeing. This included administering more than 1 million free COVID tests, protecting pay for those with COVID-19, and executing a vaccination program that resulted in nearly all Delta people being vaccinated without a mandate – all while not furloughing a single employee. Mental wellbeing support was also expanded for Delta people and their loved ones by offering 12 free sessions per issue, per household member per year.

Expanding and strengthening health benefits

For 2023, Delta is continuing its commitment to the total wellbeing of Delta people by expanding family building, parental leave, and caregiving benefits. This includes fertility support, surrogacy and increased adoption assistance, expanded maternity and parental bonding leave, as well as caregiving options from partner care.com for quality, last-minute care for children, adults or pets. And, while Delta employees will not see any increases in healthcare premiums for the fifth-straight year, they will have access to healthcare advocates who can help navigate their healthcare journey.

Empowering financial education and savings

Delta also recognizes the role that financial wellbeing plays in overall health and wellbeing – that’s why Delta is giving every employee an opportunity to earn a people to improve their financial wellbeing by offering every employee an opportunity to earn $1,000 when they contribute to an emergency savings account and complete a financial education coaching program.

Delivering on DEI commitments

Delta continues to live out its commitment to actively seek diversity, boldly pursue equity and consciously promote inclusion throughout the business. Delta has 10 highly engaged Business Resource Groups that create meaningful connections, foster allyship and influence business decisions. A founding and active member of OneTen, the national coalition aiming to increase Black talent in corporate roles with an intentional focus on relevant skills and measurable experience, Delta has included that skills-first model into part of its hiring strategy to create a stronger pathway for all people on Delta's frontline, further tapping into its most diverse population to recruit, hire and promote.

These investments were all a result of Delta taking action after listening to feedback from its 80,000 employees.

This year, Delta was also named one of the top 100 companies on Forbes’ 2022 Best Employers for Diversity list and as one of the publication’s Best Workplaces for Women in the US. Delta was ranked 20^th overall on Forbes’ 2021 list of the World’s Best Employers.