Pompeian® and a diverse group of other U.S. companies have been recognized as 2026 USA Today Top Workplaces, an annual award determined by direct employee feedback gathered through a national survey program.

Managed by Energage in collaboration with USA Today, this yearly recognition provides a data-driven look into organizations that excel at creating positive and supportive work environments. The awards highlight a continuing trend: a "people-first" culture is a critical component for business success and a key differentiator in talent competition. For recognized companies, the honor validates their internal culture; for the wider market, the list offers a benchmark for employee experience and organizational health.

What We Know So Far

  • The 2026 USA Today Top Workplaces list is determined by confidential employee feedback captured through a survey conducted by Energage, according to a GlobeNewswire report. More than 42,000 organizations with 150 or more employees were invited to participate.
  • The survey evaluates companies on multiple factors central to employee experience, including pay, benefits, leadership, work-life flexibility, and a sense of purpose, as detailed by The Economic Times.
  • Numerous companies have achieved this recognition for multiple consecutive years. Fifth Third earned the award for the fifth straight year, Credit Acceptance for its sixth, and Joyce University for its third.
  • Credit Acceptance ranked No. 4 in the 1,000–2,499 employee category, according to a release on Stocktitan.net. The company also received a specialty award for Well-Being.
  • The top five large employers for 2026 were identified as Fannie Mae, Fairway Home Mortgage Corp, Plante Moran, Progressive Insurance, and The Baldwin Group.

The Rise of People-First Culture in Modern Workplaces

The USA Today Top Workplaces award's methodology prioritizes the employee voice, distinguishing it from awards based on external nominations or editorial selections. This recognition is rooted entirely in quantitative feedback from a company's own workforce. The Energage survey platform measures 15 culture drivers critical to organizational success, including alignment, execution, and connection, ensuring the "Top Workplace" designation reflects an authentic commitment to a positive internal environment, not merely a public relations effort.