11 Great Examples of Company Core Values (original) (raw)

What separates an average company from one that’s beloved by its employees? You know what we’re talking about: the company whose Glassdoor reviews consist of complaints versus the one that’s always winning those “Best Places to Work” awards. 🏆

A lot goes into creating an organization where people want to work—but we might argue that company core values are the most important element. Creating them is just the beginning; demonstrating and incorporating them into your day-to-day is where they come to life.

Core values should serve as the lifeblood, heart, and soul of everything your business does. They are the DNA behind your company’s mission, vision, and purpose—the beliefs and fundamental principles that guide your employees at every level and communicate how your business operates to your customers.

Core values help form your company culture. They are the distinctive qualities of your business that should be upheld no matter what. (Psst: they also help create a stronger culture of recognition—see how Bonusly customer nourishes its culture with values-based recognition.)

So, the million-dollar question: what makes a great core value? 🤔

According to The Management Center, company core values should:

Inspiring company core value examples

Here are some top-notch core value examples that we love from a great group of companies!

1. HubSpot

HubSpot offers an all-in-one CRM platform for business marketing, sales, and service needs. Their mission is to help companies “grow with a conscience, and succeed with a soul,” using a distinct marketing philosophy. They are headquartered in Cambridge, MA with over 3,000 employees. HubSpot has been awarded as a top workplace by Entrepreneur, Fortune, Glassdoor, and more.

They say their employees are full of HEART, which stands for Humble, Empathetic, Adaptable, Remarkable, and Transparent. Additionally, their values are:

2. Headspace

Headspace provides one of the leading guided meditation apps whose mission is “to improve the health and happiness of the world.” Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, their team consists of nearly 500 employees.

3. Paycom

Paycom offers HR software to assist companies with talent acquisition, management, payroll, and more. They have over 4,000 employees and have been named a best place to work by Glassdoor.

4. Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is a well-known and cherished grocer easily recognized by its laid-back, nautical theme, and tasty products (have you had their dark chocolate peanut butter cups?!). With over 500 store locations across the country, their company core values help keep their culture unified.

5. Salesforce

The mission at Salesforce is to “bring companies and customers together.” They boast an impressive team of over 55,000 employees. Salesforce is consistently ranked among the top companies to work for and their impressive list of core values might explain why.

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6. Nike

Nike may be one of the most well-recognized brands in the world. Headquartered in Beaverton, OR, with over 10,000 employees, their mission is to “bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. [*If you have a body, you are an athlete.]”

7. Deloitte

Deloitte is a global financial, consulting, tax, and audit firm with over 300,000 employees. Their mission is to help their clients and people excel.

8. Starbucks

Since Starbucks launched in 1971 at Pike Place Market in Seattle, the company has been a disruptor in the coffee and cafe industry. Their thoughtful list of company values may have something to do with that.

9. ADP

As a global, 70-year-old company, ADP is an HR and benefits partner for organizations around the world. Their mission is to offer insightful solutions that bring value and success to their clients by allowing them to focus on their business.

10. Patagonia

Patagonia is a top outdoor clothing retailer that in recent years has shifted its focus to sustainable fashion. A majority of their products are made with recycled materials and they often use the visibility of their brand as a platform when it comes to environmental conservation and activism.

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11. Bonusly

We would be remiss if we didn’t include our values.

We’ve won our own share of “Best Places to Work'' awards, been named one of Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies for multiple years, and know a thing or two about building a great company culture.

At Bonusly, we’re on a mission to help people connect with their work and each other in meaningful ways. We believe that every organization can be successful by building high-performing, deeply engaged teams with the use of our top-rated employee recognition and engagement platform.

Because our values shape so much of who we are as an organization, we make sure they are well-known and woven into our daily work. We even have them listed publicly in our Employee Unhandbook. They are:

Hopefully, our list of company core values has given you some helpful ideas when it comes to your own organization's values and culture.

The first step is creating them but, as mentioned previously, they come to life when your team incorporates and puts them into practice. This can be a challenge, but our simple recognition and rewards tool makes it a breeze to tie recognition directly to your company values.

Bonusly’s top-rated rewards program allows you to reinforce your company's core values and build a recognition-first team or company culture. The benefits of employee recognition include improved employee engagement, motivation, working relationships, retention, and more. To learn more, get started with a free trial today!

See how Bonusly customer nourishes its company culture with values-based recognition