Kindness in leadership isn’t just about good intentions—it’s about action. When leaders prioritize empathy and care, employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated to contribute their best. Employees who receive genuine care from their leaders build greater trust and stronger connections, leading to a positive workplace culture.
In fact, Great Place To Work® research shows that “care” isn’t just a nice-to-have, it drives business outcomes. In a typical workplace in Asia, 65% of employees reported that employees care for each other, compared with 91% at Best Workplaces in Asia™. In addition, our research also shows that employees are 1.7 times, or 70% more likely to go the extra mile at work when they feel their colleagues care about one another.
Here’s how our Best Workplaces are embedding kindness into their workplace cultures:
1. Personal Recognition & Appreciation
Leaders can foster a culture of appreciation by recognizing employees in meaningful ways—through personal messages, celebrations, or simply showing up for key moments.
- IHG Hotels & Resorts, Singapore: IHG fosters a workplace where employees feel empowered and valued. Their Dress for Your Day policy allows employees to dress in a way that suits their work schedule, whether formal for meetings or casual for focused tasks. The standout initiative, L.O.V.E. Hour (Leave Office Vanish Early), lets employees leave work early once a month—no questions asked. These small but thoughtful actions help employees recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance. It also reflects the company’s belief that when people feel cared for, they bring their best selves to work.
2. Holistic Wellbeing Support
A culture of kindness includes prioritizing employees’ well-being, whether through mental health support, financial security, or personal growth opportunities.
- Moddex, Australia: The Thrive at Moddex program was designed with direct input from employees to meet their real needs. It covers financial and personal well-being, including assistance programs, mental health resources, and tailored support for employees’ professional development. By actively listening and responding to employees, Moddex ensures that well-being initiatives are relevant and impactful.
- Salesforce: Through paid volunteer time and donation matching, Salesforce empowers employees to contribute to meaningful causes. Their initiatives include raising over $149K for chronic illness support to the Pewani Initiative which has expanded education and job opportunities for 100K+ people in Malawi, and helping 200,000 learners in India secure jobs through a virtual internship program. By fostering a workplace where kindness extends beyond office walls, Salesforce strengthens both employee engagement and global impact.
- Fashion Garments Ltd, Vietnam: Committed to long-term employee support, Fashion Garments offers multiple initiatives to ease financial burdens. Their Peter Kaminsky Scholarship supports the children’s educational pursuits in college, university, and vocational college, and Nurturing Knowledge – Weaving Dreams programs fund employees’ children’s education, ensuring high-achieving students facing financial hardships can continue their studies.
Additionally, the company’s House Support Program constructs homes for employees living in unstable conditions, providing them with dignity and security beyond the workplace. The commitment of 100 Million VND per house goes beyond just building homes, it’s about fostering dignity, stability and a sense of belonging. This ongoing effort to support employees in meaningful ways helps to ensure that they feel valued, secure, and empowered in both their personal and professional lives.
3. Genuine Flexibility Without Judgment
True flexibility means allowing employees to balance work and life without fear of repercussions—whether for caregiving, personal commitments, or well-being.
- Capital One, Philippines: To accommodate employees’ diverse needs, Capital One expanded its remote work network, allowing employees to relocate to provincial areas while maintaining salary parity (or, in some cases, receiving higher compensation than Metro Manila-based colleagues). Customer-facing associates can adjust their break schedules monthly, and the company is piloting an initiative that lets them bid for preferred rest days and shifts—giving them greater control over their work-life balance.
- Pontiac Land Group, Singapore: Rooted in the company’s “HEART” values, Pontiac Land Group provides compassionate support through the HEART Blessings program, which allows employees to nominate colleagues in need—whether due to hospitalization, job loss, or supporting a child with special needs. Their in-house Bursary Awards further assist employees by providing educational aid for their children and grandchildren, reinforcing a deep culture of kindness and care.
4. Acts of Service & Support
Kindness-driven workplaces don’t just offer policies; they provide meaningful, ongoing support for employees’ financial, emotional, and personal needs.
- Balsam International, Philippines: The Team Manila Supplementary Support (TMSS) program began as a pandemic relief initiative but has since evolved into an ongoing financial support system. Employees receive a monthly allowance that can be used for a variety of personal expenses, from gym memberships and medical costs to financial literacy books and even general gas expenses. What makes TMSS unique is its adaptability—Gen X employees often use it for household, childcare and eldercare expenses, Millennials for medical and online wellness programs, and Gen Z for mobility and transportation. By addressing employees’ unique life stages, Balsam International ensures that support remains relevant and impactful.
- Story House Early Learning, Australia: Story House recognizes the hard work of Early Childhood Teachers who receive Learning and Development funding to invest in their careers, by covering teacher registration fees or furthering their professional development. In addition, the company values small, heartfelt acts of kindness—such as gifting the company’s cooks a $200 restaurant voucher on their birthdays. This simple yet meaningful gesture allows them to experience the joy of being served for a change, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and care.
- Highlands Coffee, Vietnam: Highlands Coffee integrates kindness into everyday culture, celebrating employees’ families as part of their extended team. Every year, employees’ children receive personally selected gifts for International Children’s Day, and the company organizes family day trips to foster bonding. Their Kid & Teen Career Day allows employees’ children to experience the Highlands work culture where they spend a day as baristas, learning the craft of coffee-making and customer service. Teen participants also undergo resume writing workshops, interview prep, and teamwork before undergoing professional training and a week of hands-on work in-store, instilling pride and appreciation towards their parent’s work at the company.
Sustaining the Human Touch
Kindness isn’t a one-time initiative—it’s a way of leading. When empathy is woven into workplace culture, employees feel truly valued. In return, they bring their best selves to work, driving engagement, loyalty, and long-term business success.
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