Bold takeaway: Massachusetts workers are finding bright spots in a year of economic and workplace turbulence, thanks to generous benefits, thoughtful policies, and a focus on purpose-driven culture. And this is where the story gets nuanced—the best places to work aren’t just about perks; they’re reshaping how work feels and how careers evolve.
Top Places to Work in Massachusetts has highlighted a wave of employers that buck the doom-and-gloom narrative. While the broader job market faced layoffs, AI disruption concerns, and a 22-year high in job cuts paired with slower hiring, the Globe’s list shines a different light. The featured companies offer meaningful advantages: monthlong paid sabbaticals, fertility benefits, company-sponsored recreational activities like skiing and fishing trips, and even on-site childcare at Sunrise Erectors. ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers provides free financial coaching, while Gupta Media and D.A. Sullivan & Sons have equipped offices with golf simulators. These examples point to a broader pattern of generosity, gratitude, and a sense of fun in the workplace.
Energage, the employee survey firm based in Exton, Pennsylvania, conducted the nationwide assessment for this year’s Top Places to Work list. They polled over 120,000 Massachusetts employees across 314 organizations. Workers evaluated leadership, values, training, benefits, and other key metrics. The rankings are divided into four size-based categories: small (50-99 employees), medium (100-249), large (250-999), and largest (1,000 or more). To qualify, an employer must have at least 50 employees in Massachusetts.
Real estate shines in Massachusetts this year as well. All four No. 1 companies come from the property sector, including three brokerages. The appeal is clear: roles often offer flexibility, a less traditional path to advancement, and strong earnings potential in a recovering housing market that rewards helping people achieve homeownership.
One winner’s founder, LAER Realty Partners, stands out with a Thanksgiving email that recognizes each of its 800+ agents by name and explains why every individual is valued. That kind of regular appreciation demonstrates how a thriving workplace culture can be built from simple, consistent acts.
Beyond perks, winning companies are implementing structural changes. Some are revamping performance reviews to be more constructive and less dreaded. Others are offering business etiquette training to support early-career workers who started remotely, helping them navigate professional interactions and appropriate professional dress.
The takeaway is clear: the mood in today’s job market isn’t uniformly bleak. The right employers can cultivate engagement, loyalty, and genuine enthusiasm for the work itself.
Explore the winners by company size and more:
- Top largest companies (1,000+ employees)
- Top large companies (250-999 employees)
- Top medium-size companies (100-249 employees)
- Top small companies (50-99 employees)
- Check out the full special issue
To participate in the 2026 Top Places to Work Survey, visit the Boston Globe’s nomination page.
Katie Johnston can be reached at katie.johnston@globe.com. Follow her @ktkjohnston.
