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. The research shows that while employees have become accustomed to a hybrid setup and expect such an arrangement to continue, the majority of full-time remote workers are also concerned about losing out on career development opportunities. Even there, however, employees expect to have a bigger say in how those opportunities manifest. "The key," says Louis Carter, CEO of the Best Practice Institute, "is allowing workers to take responsibility for where they would like their career to progress and the company preparing them for that path within the company." Many of the 2022 Most Loved Companies exemplify this shift through the implementation of special career development "academies" or projects devoted to highlighting underutilized employee talents. Test prep firm Kaplan, coming in at number 39 on the list, has a month-long program called DevelopU, which helps employees beef up their skills and encourages them to map out their own development plans. The bottom line, Newsweek's researchers say, is not to underestimate the power of an emotional connection: Employees who feel in sync with the companies they work for will exhibit more productivity and loyalty. "Employees want to go home each day and know they contributed, whether in an entry-level position or senior management," remarks BPI research chief Scott Baxt. "The companies on this list highlight how they have given a voice to all employees and, in return, have been rewarded with increased productivity and performance." See our slideshow above for the top ten most loved companies on Newsweek's list, and click here for the full report.