Headlines about the "Great Resignation" seem to have been replaced with warnings of an impending recession as inflation continues unabated. Consequently, some believe that the employer/employee dynamic has shifted in favor of the former, who no longer feels obliged to cater to workers and can make demands like an unequivocal return to the office, in spite of recent studies showing how not offering hybrid work is a dealbreaker for nearly half of college graduates entering the workforce. Additionally, the gulf between the corporate and frontline worker view on issues such as understaffing, burnout, and effective communication appears to be widening, potentially leading to a showdown where the volume may get turned up on "quiet quitting."

Such a dour read of the current landscape can lead one to wonder if anyone is satisfied in their employment situation. According to Newsweek's second annual report on America's most loved workplaces, the answer is an unqualified "yes" for companies "that have been willing to change with the times and actively work to meet the evolving needs of the people who work for them."

Partnering with the Best Practice Institute, Newsweek surveyed more than 1.4 million employees at companies ranging in size from 50 employees to more than 10,000, combining public ratings from sites like Glassdoor and Indeed with personal interviews and survey answers to compile this year's list. The main findings? Employees are happiest where there's flexibility and career development.