Inspiring Workplaces names North America’s top 100 PeopleFirst employers for 2026

Inspiring Workplaces Group, in association with Engagedly, has announced its 2026 North American winners, ranking the Top 100 organizations for PeopleFirst cultures built on trust, purpose and belonging. The list includes Sentinel Technologies, Dejero, Sarepta Therapeutics, Sweetwater, Hitachi Energy, Staples Canada and Union Pacific Railroad, with category winners and special recognition awards also announced. Why it matters: - The awards spotlight employers that are using culture as a business strategy, not just a human resources program. - Inspiring Workplaces says the winners are building environments where people feel valued, included and empowered to perform. - The recognition comes as AI and other shifts are changing how organizations manage work, leadership and employee experience. What happened: - Inspiring Workplaces Group, in association with Engagedly, announced the 2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards across North America on June 18, 2026. - The winners were revealed at an exclusive event in Chicago on June 17, 2026. - The program recognized the Top 100 organizations leading with PeopleFirst cultures built on trust, purpose and belonging. - The top three overall winners were Sentinel Technologies Inc., Dejero and Sarepta Therapeutics. - Other top-10 organizations included Sweetwater, Richmond International Airport, Arity, Royal Ambulance, Ocean State Job Lot, Parkview Health and Hitachi Energy. The details: - The Top 100 list included organizations such as Macmillan Publishers, RS, Staples Canada ULC, SurveyMonkey, Equifax Canada Co. and Union Pacific Railroad. - The 2026 rankings were determined by scores from an independent panel of expert judges. - Organizations entered through a submission process centered on six elements: Culture & Purpose, Leadership, Wellbeing, Inclusion & Belonging, Employee Voice and Employee Experience. - Awards were also given by organization size: Enterprise, Large, Medium, Small and Government & Non-Profit. - Enterprise winners included Hitachi Energy, Staples Canada ULC, Tata Consultancy Services and Upbound. - The #1 Enterprise Organization was Ocean State Job Lot. - Large winners included Cityblock Health, Royal Ambulance, Sarepta Therapeutics and Sweetwater. - The #1 Large Organization was Sentinel Technologies Inc. - Medium winners included Arity, Nexamp, Quantum Workplace and Richmond International Airport. - The #1 Medium Organization was Dejero. - Small winners included Airfoil Group, AutoLeap, GNW Consulting and The Pollack Group. - The #1 Small Organization was Breaktime Media. - Government & Non-Profit winners included Consumer Protection BC, International House at UC Berkeley, The Nature Conservancy and United States Tennis Association. - The #1 Government & Non-Profit Organization was Parkview Health. - Special recognition lists named organizations that stood out in Culture and Purpose, Leadership, Wellbeing, Inclusion and Belonging, Employee Voice and Employee Experience. - Inspiring Workplaces said the special recognition program highlights organizations that excel in different parts of a PeopleFirst culture. Between the lines: - The rankings reinforce a broader shift in which employee experience is being treated as a measurable driver of resilience and performance. - The presence of companies across health care, manufacturing, tech, finance, retail and public service suggests the PeopleFirst model is spreading across industries. - The awards also show how workplace culture has become a competitive differentiator in talent retention and employer branding. What’s next: - Inspiring Workplaces is now accepting interest for the 2027 awards across North America and other regions. - The deadline to enter the 2027 awards is February 24, 2027. - Organizations can also pursue certification through Certified PeopleFirst™, the group’s culture certification program. - More information is available in the company’s announcement and the Engagedly platform . The bottom line: - North America’s top Inspiring Workplaces winners are being positioned as proof that trust, belonging and employee voice can be core business advantages, not just workplace perks.