Why would a company or organization in the P&C insurance space want to be certified as a Great Place to Work®? Among the many reasons: Companies that have gone through the process of surveying their employees and then landing this coveted certification from the Great Place to Work Institute, a global authority on workplace culture, become extra attractive to today's top talent. Over the past year, however, these companies distinguished themselves even more than they otherwise might have by caring for employees through the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic. "These companies stood out for heroic efforts to care for their employees, their customers and our society in a difficult year," Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, said in a recent press release. "Remarkably, our research found that employee experience scores rose at these workplaces overall — a testament to the resilience of their inclusive, high-trust cultures." To determine its list for 2021, the Great Place to Work Institute surveyed over half a million employees on issues including how trustworthy, caring and fair the company is in times of crises; employees' physical, emotional and financial health; and the company's broader community impact. Particular attention was paid to how employees' experiences varied depending on their job role, gender, race/ethnicity and payroll status. Some of the common denominators among companies on the list in 2021 include an exceptionally high degree of employee satisfaction, including among employees of color. Also, benefits and compensation at these companies "went far beyond the standard." Extra PTO, backup childcare and hazard pay are common perks on jobsites that have been distinguished as Great Places to Work. These companies also commonly spotlight leaders who are open and clear about their vision for the future. As the Great Place to Work Institute says: "Employees place higher value on two-way communication and leadership integrity during crises." The slideshow above illustrates the P&C insurance organizations that gleaned the Great Place to Work distinction in Fortune's Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance list for 2021. Although there are other types of insurance and financial services firms named this year, our list focuses solely on P&C insurance organizations. See also:

• Top P&C workplaces in financial services & insurance in 2020
• 8 insurance companies ranked among best workplaces in 2019
• 7 insurance companies named as 'best workplaces' in 2018