VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced the 65 companies on the Best Place to Work 2026 awards list at a ceremony held in South Burlington on April 2nd. The annual program recognizes Vermont companies that have cultivated outstanding workplace environments, with insurance provider Union Mutual earning the distinction for its 13th consecutive year.
Katie Kittell, publisher of VermontBiz, stated the 'Best Places to Work in Vermont' designation gives recognized companies a tangible advantage, helping them 'say to perspective employees that their company has been chosen as a best place to work in Vermont.' This 'leg up on recruitment' is critical in the state's competitive labor market, where businesses face persistent staffing challenges, making the award a strategic tool for talent acquisition and retention.
What We Know So Far
- A total of 65 Vermont-based companies were named to the 2026 Best Places to Work list.
- The final rankings were revealed at an awards ceremony on April 2nd, attended by over 400 people at the Doubletree Hotel.
- Union Mutual was recognized for the 13th consecutive year, highlighting its long-term commitment to workplace culture.
- The award's evaluation process is heavily weighted toward employee feedback, with anonymous surveys accounting for 80% of a company's score.
- Top honors were given in three categories based on company size: Small, Medium, and Large.
Top Companies for Workplace Culture 2026
The 2026 awards recognized top companies in three categories: McSoley McCoy & Co. ranked first in Small Business (15-99 employees), DEW Construction led the Medium Business category (100-249 employees), and Stantec Consulting Services earned the top honor for Large Businesses (250 or more employees).
Among the recognized companies, Union Mutual’s achievement of making the list for the 13th straight year stands out as a testament to sustained excellence. The company’s leadership views the award as a direct reflection of its workforce. “Our continued recognition over the past 13 years underscores the commitment, passion, and excellence of our entire team,” said Union Mutual President & CEO Lisa Keysar in a statement published by vermontbiz.com. Keysar emphasized the company's focus on its employees as the core of its success. “We are deeply honored to receive this award once again. Our employees are the heart of Union Mutual, and we remain dedicated to fostering an engaging, supportive, and inclusive workplace where every employee can thrive.”
Consistent performance and long-term recognition demonstrate a deeply embedded cultural framework prioritizing employee experience, integrating personnel investment into the company's operational DNA. This sustained commitment offers a compelling case study for leaders on how workplace engagement translates to consistent, recognized success.
What Defines a Best Place to Work in 2026?
Created in 2006, the Best Places to Work in Vermont award uses a two-part assessment. The first part, accounting for 20% of the total score, comprehensively evaluates a company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics, scrutinizing foundational employee support structures.
However, the most significant component, accounting for 80% of the evaluation, is an anonymous employee survey. This survey measures the direct employee experience, covering aspects like leadership, communication, work-life balance, compensation, and overall engagement. This heavy weighting on employee feedback ensures that the award reflects the reality of the day-to-day work environment rather than just stated corporate policy. The program is presented in partnership with organizations including the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Vermont State Council, and the Vermont Department of Commerce and Community Development, lending it significant credibility.
Assessing workplace excellence extends beyond Vermont; similar regional awards, like Louisville Business First's 2026 Best Places to Work in Greater Louisville (bizjournals.com), highlight a trend where employee sentiment arbitrates a company's employer reputation, prompting leaders to adopt agile management.
What Happens Next
The 65 companies on the 2026 list will leverage their 'Best Place to Work' designation in recruitment and marketing: prominently featuring it on career pages, social media, and job postings to attract top-tier candidates in a tight labor market. Internally, the recognition boosts morale and validates employee contributions, aiding retention.
Companies not on the list gain a benchmark and catalyst for internal review. Leaders can analyze criteria and survey components to improve areas like benefits packages or management training. The awards' public nature creates a competitive incentive for all Vermont businesses to invest deeply in workplace culture.
Looking ahead, the key question is whether the trends revealed by the employee surveys—such as the increasing importance of flexibility, purpose-driven work, and inclusive leadership—will continue to intensify. The 2027 awards cycle will reveal which companies successfully adapt to these evolving employee expectations and which ones fall behind, further shaping the landscape of employment in the region.
