Who are the 2026 Best Workplaces in Ireland™?

Yesterday, we revealed the 2026 Best Workplaces in Ireland™, recognising organisations that are not only delivering results, but creating environments where people consistently thrive.

In a year marked by economic pressure, rapid technological advancement, and rising performance expectations, one truth stands out: The organisations that invest in trust are the ones best positioned to outperform.

This year, more than 30,000 employees across Ireland shared their experience of work through our assessment process, spanning 17 critical areas of workplace culture. Their feedback determines who earns a place on this list and the results provide powerful insight into what differentiates the very best.

Employee Retention: Commitment Built on Experience

Retention reflects the quality of culture employees experience every day. In Ireland’s Best Workplaces™, 81% of employees say they want to work there for the long term, compared to under 60% in the typical Irish workplace. That gap reflects more than satisfaction; it reflects confidence in leadership, clarity of direction, and belief in future opportunity.

Organisations that prioritise trust, meaningful development, and consistent communication create workplaces people choose to stay in. They understand that retention is not a reactive HR metric, but a direct outcome of everyday leadership behaviours and organisational integrity.

Organisational & Leadership Development: Strengthening Capability from Within

Sustainable success requires more than strong strategy; it requires strong leaders at every level.

Across this year’s recognised organisations, employees consistently report higher levels of development and support. 83% say they are receiving ongoing professional development, and 79% believe they can achieve their career aspirations within their organisation.

These organisations are not relying on external hires to fill capability gaps. They are building leadership pipelines internally, aligning development with business goals, and ensuring that growth opportunities are visible and accessible. As change accelerates, organisations that build leadership capability will outperform those that treat it as an afterthought.

 Download the report below 👇 

Inside you'll discover:

• The full list of Ireland’s Best Workplaces™ 2026 across all size categories
• The 2026 Most Trusted Leader and what sets their leadership apart
• Benchmark data showing how Best Workplaces outperform the national norm on retention, advocacy and performance
• Insight into the four pillars driving success: employee retention, leadership and organisational development, talent attraction, and high-performing culture
• How leading organisations are integrating AI while protecting trust and culture
• Perspectives on Gen Z, evolving expectations, and what this means for the future of work
• The 2026 Special Award winners and the organisations raising the bar
• And more!

Talent Attraction: Reputation Earned from the Inside Out

Employer brand is no longer built through marketing campaigns alone. It is shaped by lived employee experience and in this year’s Best Workplaces™, employee advocacy is one of the clearest differentiators:

• 90% say they are proud to tell others where they work
• 84% would strongly endorse their organisation

In a competitive labour market, that level of advocacy creates momentum. Organisations with strong cultures do not need to overstate their value proposition because their people articulate it authentically. Talent attraction, in this context, becomes the natural outcome of credibility and trust.

Talent Attraction: Reputation Earned from the Inside Out

There remains a misconception that culture and performance compete for attention. This year’s data reinforces the opposite.

Among Ireland’s Best Workplaces™, 86% of employees say their organisation is a great place to work, and 84% are willing to give extra effort to get the job done. In addition, 87% believe customers would rate their service as excellent.

These figures demonstrate that high-trust environments drive discretionary effort, strengthen accountability, and positively influence customer outcomes. Performance is not separate from culture; it is enabled by it.

Setting the Standard

As we recognise the 2026 Best Workplaces in Ireland™, we do so at a time of significant pressure and opportunity. The organisations honoured this year have proven that trust, leadership capability, and employee experience are not optional priorities. They are strategic choices that directly determine performance and long-term success.

I would also like to acknowledge the team at Great Place to Work. Their professionalism ensures that employee feedback is translated into meaningful insight, helping organisations strengthen culture in measurable and sustainable ways.

To all those recognised this year, congratulations. Your commitment to building high-trust cultures is strengthening retention, accelerating leadership development, enhancing talent attraction, and enabling high performance across Ireland’s workplaces.

Check out the full list here:

2026 Ireland's Best Workplaces™ Special Report

In partnership with The Irish Times 

Great Place to Work, in partnership with The Irish Times, are delighted to release a Special Report on Ireland's Best Workplaces™ and the workplace cultures that make them the best across the country.

How can your organisation be recognised as one of Ireland's Best Workplaces™ in 2026?

To be considered for Ireland's Best Workplaces™ in 2026, participating organisations are required to be Certified™ as a Great Place to Work first. The Certification is the first step towards any Great Place to Work recognition. The great news? You can become a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation in just 6 weeks!

Want to learn more on getting Certified™? Check out our webinar below to get all your questions answered!

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. We help organisations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. We recognise Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces™ in more than 60 countries.

To join the thousands of companies that have committed to building high-trust company cultures that help them attract, retain and take care of their people, contact us about getting Certified today.