New employee data shows creating a welcoming and supportive work environment is a major priority for employees, while this year’s independent Best Places to Work™ Awards judging reveals leading workplaces are increasingly embedding wellbeing into how work is designed and managed.

The finalists in the 2026 Best Places to Work™ Awards have been announced today, recognising New Zealand organisations across different industries, regions and workplace sizes.

While there is no single formula for creating the Best Places to Work™, this year's finalists share a commitment to listening to their people, learning from their experiences and making intentional decisions about how work feels and functions every day.

Across the 2026 Best Places to Work™ Employee Experience Survey results, one of the clearest messages was the importance employees place on the everyday experience of work.

When asked what matters most to them in the workplace, 74.6% of surveyed employees selected people and culture among their top three factors, compared with 35.4% who selected compensation. Supportive managers, flexibility and feeling able to be themselves at work also featured strongly.

Best Places to Work™ CEO Julie Gill says the results highlight that what people value at work extends well beyond remuneration alone.

“Pay absolutely matters. What these results show is that remuneration is only one part of what people value at work.

“Our results also tell us there is an opportunity for many organisations to provide greater transparency around how remuneration decisions are made.

“At the same time, employees place significant value on the human experience of work. The people they work with, the relationship they have with their manager, whether they feel trusted, whether the level of flexibility works for their life and whether they feel connected to what the organisation is trying to achieve all matter.

“Those are things organisations of every size can influence.”

Wellbeing becoming part of how work works

Another trend emerging through this year's survey results and independent judging was how organisations are approaching employee wellbeing.

Alongside dedicated wellbeing initiatives and benefits, judges saw strong organisations increasingly considering wellbeing in the everyday design and management of work itself.

This included how organisations manage workload and capacity, enable people to take leave, respond when employees experience difficult personal circumstances, provide mental health and financial support, create flexibility and ensure leaders recognise when people need additional support.

Gill says the distinction is important.

"Dedicated wellbeing initiatives absolutely have a place, but the strongest approaches we saw went further than that.

"Wellbeing was reflected in everyday decisions about workload, leadership, flexibility, safety and how people are supported when life gets difficult.

"That's important because an initiative can provide valuable support, but the way work is structured has an impact on people's wellbeing every day. The strongest organisations are thinking about both."

Employees have their say first

The Best Places to Work™ Awards process begins with the Employee Experience Survey, where employees provide confidential feedback about their experience at work.

Organisations must achieve the required survey results and participation threshold before becoming eligible for the Best Places to Work™ Awards Shortlist. Shortlisted organisations then provide detailed evidence about their practices that is assessed through an independent judging process.

Final Best Places to Work™ Awards results combine verified employee feedback with independent judging, ensuring recognition reflects both what organisations are doing and how their people actually experience it.

Gill says this is fundamental to the credibility of the programme.

"You can't talk your way into a Best Places to Work™ Award. Your own people have to back you up first.

"Only then do our independent judges look behind those results to understand the intentional decisions and practices shaping that employee experience, how consistently they're being applied and what difference they're making.

"Workplace culture isn't what an organisation says about itself. Ultimately, it's what people experience when they come to work."

EMA Chief Executive John Fraser-Mackenzie says the finalists demonstrate that investing in people and organisational performance go hand in hand.

“What stands out in this year’s results is how closely the things employees value are connected to the fundamentals of a high-performing workplace.

“Strong leadership & culture, trust, flexibility, wellbeing and a sense of connection all shape people’s experience at work, but they also influence an organisation’s ability to attract and retain people, build capability and perform well.

“At a time when businesses are navigating significant change, including the rapid adoption of new technology and AI, continuing to invest in people & culture is critical. This year’s finalists are showing what that can look like in practice.”

Winners to be announced on 22 October

The winners of the 2026 Best Places to Work™ Awards will be announced at the Best Places to Work™ Awards Gala Dinner at Cordis Auckland on 22 October 2026.

Winners will be recognised across the Workplace Size and Spotlight Award categories, with the Overall Winner of the 2026 Best Places to Work™ Awards also revealed on the night.

Gill says becoming a finalist is already a significant achievement and a milestone worth celebrating.

"The Awards are also part of something bigger. Best Places to Work™ and the organisations we recognise have an opportunity to share what's working and help raise the standard of employee experience across New Zealand.

"Every organisation that listens to its people, learns from what they say and takes meaningful action contributes to that.

"This year's finalists also demonstrate something particularly important: investing in people isn't something strong organisations reserve just for good times. In many cases, it is precisely what helps them navigate the difficult times.

"We congratulate every organisation named as a 2026 Best Places to Work™ Awards Finalist and, importantly, the people who have helped create the workplaces being recognised."