5 Reasons to Enter the Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards

The Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards are now open for 2026. They are run by WorkL, a company that measures workplace happiness. Here are five ways entering can help your organisation.

1. Solve the Trust Problem

Many South African companies have a trust problem. Bosses think they trust their workers, but workers don't feel trusted. The awards survey gives you real-time feedback from employees. It shows you if people might leave, so you can fix problems before they happen.

2. Attract Top Talent

South Africa has high unemployment, but it is still hard to find workers with skills in science, technology, engineering, and maths. These workers can choose their employers. If your company wins a "Best Place to Work" badge, it shows you have a great culture. That attracts the best candidates.

3. Build Public Trust

People are more cynical today. They don't trust big companies easily. Entering the awards gives you independent proof that your company is a good place to work. This helps your public relations team build a strong, honest brand.

4. Help Business Leaders Make Better Decisions

Business leaders must balance being kind to workers with being profitable. The awards give them data to show investors and board members that worker happiness leads to business success. This makes it easier to spend money on workplace culture.

5. Improve Your Culture Every Year

Good workplace culture is not just one thing you do once. It requires constant work. The awards give you a framework to keep listening to your workers and improving. You will move from fixing problems to preventing them.

Entering the awards is not just about winning a trophy. It is about making your company a better place for everyone. The deadline is October 19, 2026.

This article was originally published on TimesLIVE.