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.
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.
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.
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Inside you'll discover:
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.