40 Canadian employers earn recognition for outstanding employee satisfaction
HRD Canada has announced its Best Places to Work 2026 list, recognizing organizations who excel at employee satisfaction and a formal, visible commitment to employee listening.
The annual ranking celebrates workplaces that deliver outstanding and meaningful employee experiences across all industries and organizations in Canada.
"Being a top employer in 2026 starts with a formal employee listening strategy across the lifecycle, paired with visible action," says Laura Hansen-Kohls, vice president of HR diagnostics, advisory and data insights at McLean & Company in Toronto. "Meaningful listening means leaders ask questions, clarify, and work to understand the real issues behind what employees share, then consistently acknowledge and close the loop, even if you can't act on it."
The 40 winners span sectors ranging from technology and law to non-profit services and digital health — but they all share a defining discipline: listening to employees, acting on that feedback, and closing the feedback loop.
CNIB and DBCS
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and its sister organization Deafblind Community Services (DBCS) were jointly recognized this year. Led by Angela Bonfanti, president and chief executive officer of both CNIB and DBCS since 2024, and Christall Beaudry, president and chief operating officer of DBCS and chief inclusion officer of CNIB, the organizations have built a workplace culture grounded in purpose and service — qualities that run through every aspect of the employee experience.
OntarioMD
OntarioMD has earned recognition for delivering meaningful autonomy, flexible work options, and leadership development opportunities that resonate particularly in a health-technology context — a model that has driven strong employee satisfaction results with an employee satisfaction score of nearly 86 per cent. OntarioMD is a returning name on the HRD Canada list, demonstrating sustained commitment to its people and culture strategy.
Harris & Company LLP
Harris & Company LLP earns a place on this list as a legal firm — a sector not historically associated with progressive people practices — is a meaningful signal that employee satisfaction can be built in any workplace, regardless of industry.
The organizations on HRD Canada's Best Places to Work 2026 list have responded not with policy documents alone, but with action — reaching out to employees, acting on what they hear, and following up. That is the listening advantage.
Read the full HRD Canada Best Places to Work 2026 report here.
