Behind the Scenes: Being a Best Company to Work For

This week, Navy Federal Credit Union earned the honor of being named by FORTUNE as one of their 100 Best Companies to Work For®. This is our tenth consecutive recognition, rounding out 11 times on the list! To say we’re proud is an understatement. Having stepped into the role of Chief Human Resources Officer amidst this pandemic, I’ve gotten to see what an incredible culture Navy Federal Credit Union has. We’ve spent the past 13 months navigating a completely new work environment, making this award mean more than ever.

When the pandemic hit a year ago, we adjusted our workforce to be 85% remote. We didn’t know then how that shift would impact our culture. As a result, we worked hard to ensure we remained a supportive and vibrant workplace despite these challenges.

I’ve watched leaders across our company grow and adapt to various “new normals” throughout the pandemic. By understanding the unique circumstances and responsibilities of our teams, they flexed themselves and our work environment to meet changing needs. This is something that has not only allowed our culture to remain intact, but also to enhance and grow.

Being a Best Company to Work For is also part of our secret sauce in exceptionally serving our members. At Navy Federal, we live and breathe the motto, “Our Members Are the Mission®.” But in order to provide the exceptional level service our members know and expect, we must begin by first making our team members our mission. We see that come to life in different ways. It’s in the belief our team members have in our organization. It’s also in the joy they bring to their work every day.

So How Do We Create That Environment?

First, we champion courageous communication and empowered decision-making at all levels while fostering a diverse and inclusive atmosphere. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in numerous virtual town halls and attended virtual Lunch & Learn sessions. Through each of these experiences, I’ve witnessed authentic conversations, oftentimes focused around topics that take courage to speak about, from our team members, at all levels.

Second, we focus on providing our team members with opportunities to grow and develop. Whether it’s through tuition assistance, mentorship programs, job rotations or other development opportunities, we offer team members tools and resources to reach their highest potential.

Lastly—and perhaps most importantly—we recognize that our team members have lives outside of work. We’ve always supported that flexibility and balance for our employees, and continued to make it a priority in the wake of the pandemic. From generous maternity and paternity leave, to focused wellness programs and opportunities like paid time off to volunteer, we want our teams to thrive both in and outside of work.

It’s a proud week for all of us here at Navy Federal. I’m continually honored to be part of Navy Federal as we continue to grow and adapt to an ever-changing world. If there’s one thing this past year has taught me, it’s that our employees are incredible and resilient. It’s our goal to continue providing them with a workplace that makes them proud and that they can call a best company to work for.