BusinessWorld partners with WorkL for list of happiest workplaces across the country

By Bjorn Biel M. Beltran, Special Features and Content Assistant Editor

What is the perfect workplace?

Any number of people will likely come up with any number of possible scenarios. Someone who enjoys collaborating with others and hearing new perspectives might want a sort of a global office, working seamlessly with international teams. Meanwhile, someone who prefers to work at their own pace might want a remote or hybrid work model. Others have grown used to traditional corporate settings and find comfort in structured, well-defined work days.

Different as the ideals may be for each person, there is still a baseline by which the happiness of a worker is measured. A workplace where employees are not just content, but genuinely happy — a place where people show up not just because they have to, but because they want to.

That’s the vision behind the Best Places to Work 2025 awards, the latest partnership between BusinessWorld and WorkL — a collaboration that promises to set a new standard for workplace happiness in the country.

“BusinessWorld, Best Places to Work 2025 awards are open for organizations across the Philippines to enter with the chance of being included within the prestigious list which will help businesses attract and retain talent,” Suzanna Duke, Partnerships director of WorkL, said.

WorkL, an international organization with a mission to elevate workplace happiness globally, has teamed up with BusinessWorld to launch the Best Places to Work 2025 awards with the aim of creating a more engaged, fulfilled, and vibrant workforce in the Philippines.

WorkL already holds data on the state of work-life in the Philippines, which shows that the current employee engagement score, as of July 2024 was 80%, well above the global average of 70%. Flight Risk for employees (or how likely an employee is to leave the organization within the next nine months) in the country is also extremely low, at just 10% compared to a global average of 25%.

Companies participating in the awards will receive deep insights into their workplace dynamics, from engagement scores to diversity indicators. It’s a holistic approach to workplace happiness that goes beyond surface-level perks.

“The Best Places to Work awards will highlight the growing importance of employee happiness and illustrate how a happy workforce makes a business commercially more successful,” she added.

“Improving workplace standards in the Philippines should be a focus for all businesses, therefore with such a prominent business title putting employee happiness in focus, there will be a shift in expectations and ultimately standards, for businesses to adhere to.”

The Best Places to Work 2025 list will be based on results from a survey to entrant organizations, which features 31 questions centered around WorkL’s widely approved employee engagement theory, the Six Steps to Workplace Happiness. Developed by behavioral scientists, data analysts, psychologists, business leaders, academics and other independent parties, the survey monitors employee engagement and well-being in the workplace.

Partnering for better workplaces

WorkL’s journey began in 2017 when Lord Price, a former Minister of State for Trade and Investment in the United Kingdom (UK), launched the platform alongside WorkL for Business. His mission was simple yet profound: to make the world of work a better place.

Over the years, WorkL has powered the highly regarded Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards in the UK and has established partnerships with major media outlets worldwide. When Lord Price visited the Philippines, he was struck by the country’s untapped potential and a growing appetite for better employee engagement. Then, finding a natural synergy with the company, he reached out to BusinessWorld, recognizing it as the perfect partner to champion this cause in the Philippines.

Jay R. Sarmiento, vice-president for Sales & Marketing of PhilSTAR Media Group, of which BusinessWorld is a part of, said that WorkL reached out to the company due to the paper’s credibility as a business news platform and paper.

As a leading voice in business journalism, the publication is uniquely positioned to amplify the importance of workplace happiness, pushing it to the forefront of corporate agendas across the country. This is more than just a partnership; it is a call to action for businesses to rethink their priorities and put their people first.

“[The Best Places to Work awards] will provide them with data and insights on how they can retain their talent and even give them leverage in terms of attracting talent to their company,” she added.

The awards will help businesses measure their current standing and identify areas for improvement, using WorkL’s data-driven approach that covers everything from flight risk to confidence in management. For those opting for the enhanced package, the insights run even deeper, offering tailored action plans and demographic analyses to fine-tune their strategies.

BusinessWorld is also offering a free digital subscription to its publication via its e-commerce site BWorldX for all organizations who enter this initiative.

“The primary goal for the partnership is to ultimately make organizations and their employees in the Philippines happier and the businesses, commercially successful. The happiness of employees is important for both organizations and economies because there is an undeniable link between workplace happiness and financial success,” Ms. Duke said.

“Management often focuses on productivity metrics and performance outcomes, but both of these depend on the extra discretionary effort you can get from your employees and how this compares to your competitors. A happy employee gives more by going the extra mile.”

Why happiness matters

But what does happiness at work really mean? According to WorkL, true workplace happiness is rooted in a deeper sense of fulfillment, where employees feel valued, supported, and connected to their work and their colleagues. It is about creating spaces where people can grow, learn, and find purpose.

“Happiness at work extends beyond mere job satisfaction. It encompasses a sense of fulfilment, purpose, and positive engagement with tasks and colleagues. Factors contributing to workplace happiness include meaningful work, supportive management, a good working relationship with your manager, opportunities for growth and development, and a positive work culture,” Ms. Duke said.

“When employees find joy and purpose in their work, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, as well as to take fewer sick days, all leading to enhanced performance.”

The hope is that as more companies strive to make it onto the Best Places to Work list, there will be a ripple effect that extends far beyond individual businesses. The awards have the potential to reshape the broader landscape of work in the Philippines, setting new benchmarks for what it means to be a great place to work.

Companies that prioritize employee happiness will not only attract top talent but also inspire loyalty and long-term commitment from their workforce.

“Having an organization such as BusinessWorld promote happiness at work, as well as support businesses in their endeavors to become happier places to work, will significantly impact the Philippine job market positively,” Ms. Duke added.

“As a leader within business, BusinessWorld is tackling a very real problem whereby organizations are failing because of an unhappy workforce. Prioritizing employee happiness will ultimately benefit businesses and the wider economy in the Philippines.”

The deadline for entry in BusinessWorld’s Best Places to Work is on April 25, 2025, and results will be announced the following June.

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