Around 1,500 UK businesses feature on WorkL’s World’s Happiest Workplaces list for 2026, a global catalogue that highlights organisations scoring highly on employee happiness metrics. According to WorkL, the list spans more than 50 countries and thousands of organisations recognised for strong workplace wellbeing.

The rankings are drawn from responses to WorkL’s anonymised “Happy at Work” test, which the company says has been completed by over a million employees worldwide. The assessment examines wellbeing, job satisfaction, reward and recognition, information sharing, empowerment and pride; organisations scoring 70 or above are included.

The 2026 roll call mixes household names and regional firms, with international entrants such as Standard Bank, Disney and DIOR listed alongside national champions in various markets. Industry observers note the presence of major banks and hospitality groups among the highest scorers, illustrating how culture and leadership shape employee experience.

UK small and medium-sized enterprises also feature prominently. WorkL’s list includes British firms from advertising platforms to wealth managers and care-home operators, while some agencies announced multiple category wins in their own press releases, underscoring the awards’ resonance for employer branding.

Commenting on the publication, Lord Mark Price, founder of WorkL, said: “I’m delighted to publish the World’s Happiest Workplaces 2026 list today. Organisations who are recognised report higher productivity, lower staff turnover and lower sick leave as a result of employees being happier. Our research shows that nearly 50% of people are unhappy, anxious or depressed at work. It’s our mission to make the world’s workplaces happier, and it starts with acknowledging the ones who are doing a good job.” WorkL has also launched a Work Happiness Charter, a manifesto it says aims to make happiness at work a universal right.

WorkL states the list and accompanying awards were updated and announced in January 2026, with the awards cycle attracting submissions and test responses from well over 100,000 organisations. The company and partner outlets say the searchable list can be filtered by country, industry and category, enabling employers and jobseekers to examine performance on specific workplace dimensions.

Analysts and commentators point to wellbeing and trust as the dominant drivers behind high rankings, arguing that measurable improvements in morale tend to coincide with lower absenteeism and turnover. Industry reporting highlights that banks, hospitality groups and large service employers frequently top the scores, but that the awards have also become a platform for SMEs to demonstrate people-focused cultures.

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