What makes a company a great place to work? According to recognised research and consulting firm Great Place to Work Institute (GPTW), the matrix — which includes listening, hiring, celebrating, sharing, thanking, caring, inspiring, speaking and developing — is built on fostering an inspiring, fun and high-trust environment with great camaraderie among team members.

Those were some of the reasons JMMB group operations in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica have been named among the top 20 best places to work in the Caribbean this year, ranking 13 and 19, respectively.

They were awarded in Puerto Rico back in May.

Of the 41 companies from four Caribbean countries that participated in the survey, JMMB was the only Jamaican-based company to be listed among the top 20 in the Caribbean category. JMMB Group also featured in the multinational category.

Reacting to the award, Donna Duncan-Scott, Group Executive Director of Culture and Human Development, said,”We are elated to be recognised as an employer of choice. We believe that our ability to remain true to who we are and having our team’s best interest at heart has been a driving force in our accomplishment.

“This award serves as validation of the work that JMMB Group has been doing and will help us to benchmark ourselves against industry experts and other top-ranked companies globally,” she continued.

According to Robert Levering, co-founder, Great Place to Work, “A great place to work is one in which you trust the people you work for, have pride in what you do, and enjoy the people you work with.”

This principle is highlighted by William Veloz, Fund Manager at JMMB Funds in the DR, who remarked: “The unique JMMB culture makes every aspect of work more pleasant, creative and fun…(additionally) JMMB is constantly encouraging us to learn and grow in (our personal and professional) life.”

Annecia Francis, client relations officer at JMMB Ltd in Jamaica, shares similar views about JMMB’s culture.

“It is a great feeling to be able to have conversations with your colleagues and boss without feeling intimidated,” she said.

JMMB explained that as part of its commitment to creating a great place to work for its team, it pays keen attention to the social, physical and mental wellness of team members to support work-life balance. As examples, it provides childcare and gym facilities, or covers the cost where such facilities are not accessible in the Corporate Area. The financial groups said, too, that it covers the full cost of health insurance premiums for all full-time employees, their spouses, and their children, as well as provides access to free counselling services.

Professionally, the company said it provides scope for growth. Michelle Falconer, business analyst, who has been a part of the JMMB team for 11 years can attest to this.

“I began my career in the client care centre and have steadily been promoted into various roles, while being given the necessary cross-training and professional development by JMMB, to help me succeed in each job.” “[As a working mother], I also enjoy the peace of mind and flexibility the nursery affords me.”

The GPTW trust index survey and culture auditsurvey showed JMMB scoring an average of 84.5 per cent and 83.5 per cent in team pride and camaraderie, respectively.

GPTW Institute provides executive coaching and culture consulting services to businesses, non-profits and government agencies in over 40 countries on six continents. In the United States, it also produces the annual Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list and the Great Place to Work Best Small & Medium Workplaces list.