As expectations of work continue to evolve, organisations that invest in how people experience their working lives are increasingly setting themselves apart. While pay and security remain important, employees are placing growing value on trust, clarity, and a sense of purpose. The latest Ireland’s Best Workplaces results suggest that where these elements are embedded, organisations are better positioned for long-term success.
That distinction is evident in Ireland’s 2026 Best Workplaces benchmark data. The data highlights the scale of difference created by strong workplace cultures. This year, 86 per cent of employees in Best Workplaces say their organisation is a great place to work, compared with around 60 per cent of employees in the typical Irish workplace, suggesting a meaningful gap between leading employers and the national norm.
Talent attraction is one area where this difference is particularly visible. In Ireland’s Best Workplaces, 90 per cent of employees say they are proud to tell others where they work, while 84 per cent say they would strongly endorse their organisation to friends and family as a great place to work. In the typical Irish workplace, advocacy levels are significantly lower, with fewer than six in 10 employees expressing the same sense of pride. That contrast matters in a tight labour market, where reputation is increasingly shaped by how employees talk about their experience, rather than by employer branding alone.
Employee retention reflects a similar pattern. In Best Workplaces, 81 per cent of employees say they want to work there for the long term, compared with just under 60 per cent in the typical Irish workplace. This sense of staying power is reinforced by day-to-day experience: employees in Best Workplaces are more likely to feel supported, listened to, and confident about their future. Where those conditions are absent, intentions to stay tend to weaken, even when roles or pay remain competitive.
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A high-performing culture is also more consistently evident. Employees in Best Workplaces report higher levels of motivation and commitment, with 84 per cent saying they are willing to give extra effort to get the job done and 86 per cent saying they feel they make a difference through their work. By comparison, only 59 per cent of employees in the typical Irish workplace say they are willing to give extra effort. That internal momentum carries through to external outcomes: 87 per cent of employees in Best Workplaces believe customers would rate the service they provide as excellent, suggesting a close relationship between how people experience work and how organisations perform in practice.
Clear patterns in organisational and leadership development emerge across Best Workplaces. Employees in Best Workplaces are more likely to say they are developing professionally, with 83 per cent reporting ongoing professional development and 81 per cent saying management shows appreciation for good work and extra effort. Clear pathways also matter as 79 per cent believe they can fulfil their career aspirations within their organisation, compared with just over half of employees in the typical Irish workplace. Over time, these conditions help build leadership capability from within, rather than relying on external hires to fill gaps.
These findings point to a simple but important conclusion. Organisations that take workplace culture seriously are not only improving the day-to-day experience of work but also strengthening their ability to perform and adapt over time. The experience of Ireland’s Best Workplaces™ suggests that trust, engagement, and consistent leadership continue to shape sustainable success across Irish organisations.
