Each year, the publication of the World's Best Workplaces™ list by Fortune and Great Place To Work® offers more than a ranking of global employers. It provides valuable insight into the organisations that have succeeded in creating outstanding workplace cultures at scale, validated by the people who know them best: their employees.
This year, the recognition is particularly noteworthy for Belgium. Five organisations that were also named among Belgium's Best Workplaces have earned a place on the global ranking, while nine additional companies featured on the list are also Great Place To Work Certified™ in Belgium. Together, these organisations demonstrate that exceptional workplace cultures can thrive both locally and globally.
What Makes the World's Best Workplaces™ List Unique?
In an era where employer reputation can be shaped by branding campaigns and public perception, the World's Best Workplaces™ list stands apart because it is fundamentally driven by employee feedback.
For more than 30 years, Great Place To Work® has been studying workplace culture and employee experience across the globe. Through decades of research, we have identified the factors that not only determine whether employees consider their workplace great, but also predict outcomes such as employee retention, organisational agility, innovation, and long-term business success.
At the heart of this research is the proprietary Trust Index™ survey, which measures the key dimensions that create high-trust workplace cultures. These include trust in leadership, connection with colleagues, pride in one's work, and loyalty to the organisation. The survey allows employees to share confidential quantitative and qualitative feedback through 60 statements rated on a five-point scale, complemented by two open-ended questions. This approach provides both robust data and valuable context about the employee experience.
Listening to Employees Around the World
The Trust Index™ survey explores every aspect of workplace culture. Employees tell us whether leaders are accessible, communicate openly and honestly, and act consistently with their stated values. They share whether they feel respected, supported, and appreciated as individuals. They evaluate their opportunities for development, access to training, well-being support, and their ability to contribute meaningfully to the organisation.
Importantly, employees also assess fairness. They provide feedback on pay, recognition, promotions, opportunities, profit sharing, and whether favouritism exists within the organisation.
Beyond trust and fairness, employees tell us whether they feel proud of their work, their teams, and their organisation. They share whether their work feels meaningful and whether they believe they make a difference. Finally, they describe the quality of relationships with colleagues and whether they feel accepted, valued, and able to be themselves at work.
Great Place To Work® analyses not only overall scores but also differences in responses across demographic groups and employee populations. This enables us to assess both the quality and consistency of the employee experience throughout an organisation.
A Rigorous and Research-Driven Methodology
While employee feedback forms the foundation of the World's Best Workplaces™ ranking, organisations also provide additional insight into their culture and workplace strategy. Participating companies answer six detailed essay questions designed to explain how and why they create a great workplace for all employees. These responses are rigorously evaluated and cross-reviewed using Great Place To Work's research-based criteria.
Through these submissions, organisations share information about workplace programmes, employee benefits, leadership practices, well-being initiatives, learning opportunities, and culture-building efforts. The evaluation highlights organisations that demonstrate a genuine commitment to supporting employees both inside and outside the workplace.
However, it is important to emphasise that while these submissions provide valuable context, employee feedback remains decisive. Only survey results determine ranking placement.
Meeting a Truly Global Standard
Earning a place on the World's Best Workplaces™ list is an achievement reserved for a select group of organisations.
To be eligible, organisations must:
- Employ at least 5,000 people worldwide.
- Appear on at least five Best Workplaces™ lists across Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, North America, or Australia during 2025 or early 2026.
- Meet strict requirements regarding survey distribution and employee participation.
- Demonstrate workplace excellence through employee survey results.
The standards for participation are intentionally rigorous. Survey distribution and response rates must accurately represent the organisation's workforce and ensure feedback reflects the experiences of employees across geographies, functions, and populations.
The final ranking also considers the scope of an organisation's global workforce and the number of countries included in the survey process, ensuring that recognition reflects a truly international employee experience.
The Scale Behind the Rankings
The World's Best Workplaces™ list is backed by one of the largest workplace culture datasets in the world.
For this year's ranking, Great Place To Work® analysed:
- Feedback from more than 9 million employees
- Workplace programmes from organisations representing more than 23 million employees globally
This scale provides an unparalleled view of what employees value most and what distinguishes the world's leading workplace cultures.
Celebrating Organisations That Set the Standard
Recognition as one of the World's Best Workplaces™ is evidence that an organisation has built a culture of trust, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie that is consistently experienced by employees across countries and cultures.
We extend our congratulations to every company featured on this year's World's Best Workplaces™ list. Their commitment to creating exceptional employee experiences continues to raise the global standard for what great workplaces can achieve and serves as an inspiration for organisations everywhere.
For Belgium in particular, the strong representation of organisations that are either Belgium's Best Workplaces or Great Place To Work Certified™ reinforces an important message: world-class workplace cultures are thriving within our own market and making an impact on the global stage.
Belgium’s Best Workplaces 2026 featured on the World’s Best Workplaces 2026 list:
Hilton | AbbVie | DHL | Salesforce | Siemens Healthineers
Organisation on the World’s Best Workplaces 2026 list that are also Great Place To Work Certified in Belgium:
Cisco | Accenture | Marriott International | TP | Stryker | Allianz | Hilti | SC Johnson | Trek Bicycle