Many people would agree that Bill Gates is a great employer. But what makes him a great? Can you tell if you’re a great employer or not? Well, I have some tips to help you understand what aspects make someone a fantastic employer. They’re listed below.

#1.  Know people are working for something other then a payday. Most people don’t just have a job to get by. Many people are seeking out opportunities and know that they have to start somewhere. If you continuously promote from within then you are a great employer.

#2. Surprise People.  Employees expect annual raises or holiday bonuses. But what about Tuesday? Google is notorious as a great employer because of the environment at the company. I like to celebrate Tuesdays, sometimes even Thursdays! Surprising your employees with something as simple as a $5 gift card to Starbucks for no reason helps to keep people both motivated and caffeinated.  Did I mention loyal?

#3.  Let employees make big decisions…. sorta. At the DreamWorks SKG studios, any employee can pitch an idea for a movie to the bosses. In fact, the company encourages it and offers a “Life’s a Pitch” workshop to teach them how best to do it. The point is to encourage employees at all levels to speak up when they have an idea or way to conduct business better.

Great employees thrive because of great employers. Promote from within, show generosity and listen to everyone.