This year’s list of The Australian Best Places to Work unveils the secret of organisations reaping the dividend of higher staff engagement and greater productivity: employee happiness contributes to business performance, reports PADMA IYER.
In a competitive job market, what truly sets a company apart? Is it the salary, the perks, or the prestige?
A groundbreaking report from WorkL and The Australian reveals a simpler, more profound answer: happiness.
The Australian Best Places to Work 2025, unveiled in this special report, highlights Australia’s organisations that have mastered the art of employee engagement, creating workplaces where staff aren’t just productive, but genuinely happy.
This isn’t just about good vibes; it’s about a powerful, measurable link between employee contentment and business success.
As WorkL founder Lord Mark Price explains, organisations with happy, engaged employees see higher productivity, reduced staff turnover and sick leave, and increased profits.
These companies are also a magnet for top talent, finding it easier to both retain their best people and recruit new ones.
The methodology behind this list, developed by WorkL, is based on six core drivers of workplace engagement: reward and recognition, information sharing, empowerment, wellbeing, instilling pride, and job satisfaction.
The companies on this list have not only embraced these dimensions of employee engagement but have woven them into the very fabric of their culture.
So how are some of the top-ranked companies in this year’s list of The Australian Best Places to Work achieving the “happiness dividend”?
Big hearts
For small organisations, building a strong culture often comes down to a clear vision and a deep commitment to their people.
Verse Wealth, a top contender in the small business category, exemplifies this approach.
The company’s mission is simple yet powerful: to help people live the life they want.
This ethos begins with its own team. According to Verse Wealth, its culture is “intentional” and “values-led,” designed for high performers to thrive.
It’s a blend of client obsession, innovation, and a serious commitment to personal growth.
Employees describe the environment as one where they feel challenged, supported, and inspired by both the work and their colleagues.
Its employee engagement initiatives are a testament to their dedication.
The company holds gratitude sessions, has a Verse share plan to give every team member a stake in the company’s success, and offers “complete trust and autonomy” for employees to manage their own schedules.
It embraces a flexible, techenabled work environment with a unique five-days-inthe-office, five-days-from-home work arrangement.
On top of highly competitive salaries (with a goal to be top of the market in two years), it offers an annual interstate retreat called Next Verse, a generous $5000 bonus for employee referrals, and robust leave policies and team celebrations.
Another standout, Wayfinder Agency, a buyer’s agency, focuses on empowering its team.
It provides “the freedom to thrive, the support to stretch, and the backing of systems and leadership that truly care”.
For Wayfinder, it’s about creating a platform for professionals to find “clarity, connection, and career fulfilment.”
Its benefits go beyond the traditional, focusing on fostering wellbeing and growth, and as a result, its team shows up “energised, connected, and ready to build something bigger together”.
InvestorKit proves that location is no barrier to a great workplace culture. As a fully remote company, its success is measured by outcomes, not by where the work is done.
This outcomes-based model allows team members to integrate their work with their lives, which is particularly valuable for those with family commitments or who live in regional areas.
This human-centered approach has led to a low turnover rate and national recognition as Buyer’s Agency of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
A key to its success is the PPF (personal, professional, financial) goal-setting framework, which empowers every team member to set and track meaningful goals across all aspects of their lives.
Community and purpose
As companies grow, maintaining a strong, unified culture can be a challenge.
The top medium-sized companies on the Best Places to Work list show it’s not only possible but also a catalyst for growth.
Clear Sky Financial sees itself as more than a workplace; it’s a “mission-driven community”.
Founded with the vision of making premium financial advice accessible to everyday Australians, the company has built a culture that aims to blend professional excellence with genuine care.
Its energy is fuelled by core values: purpose, innovation, integrity, and community. Staff are empowered to lead from every level and are supported with structured career pathways and mental health resources.
This people-first approach has paid off, with low attrition and impressive growth fuelled by staff referrals – over 70 per cent of new hires since 2021 have come from within the team.
The company’s #ClearSkyCares charity initiative also allows employees to drive initiatives that create real-world impact.
For Collective Engineering, a values-driven approach is paramount.
The company’s vibrant community – with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and soon in Brisbane – thrives on innovative ideas, genuine connection, boundless opportunity, and a commitment to excellence.
It has created an environment that aims to be both enjoyable and deeply supportive, ensuring a strong sense of belonging.
The company maintains a “down-to-earth approach” while being high-performing, and a dedicated cultural board ensures a constant calendar of events and celebrations to foster a positive and dynamic workplace.
The company says its employees see themselves as a “family in the truest sense”, where every decision is made with the people at the core.
Clean Cruising, a mid-sized cruise travel agency, demonstrates the power of long-term commitment.
Many of their team members have been with the company for 10, 15, or even 20+ years, a powerful testament to their culture of respect and shared outcomes.
They celebrate these milestones meaningfully and provide flexibility and growth opportunities.
Their people strategy is centered on continuous learning and growth, offering meaningful, long-term careers rather than just jobs.
This focus, combined with a clear purpose – helping customers plan their dream holidays – instils a sense of pride that goes beyond the “special travel perks”.
Scale with a smile
Scaling a people-first culture across hundreds of employees and multiple locations is a significant undertaking.
The top large organisations on the list have done this with remarkable success.
Tasty Fresh Food Co, a national leader in convenience food service with over 600 employees, has an ambitious vision to be the “gold standard” in its industry with a leading-edge staff culture.
The company’s growth from a single van in 1979 to a national fleet of over 200 is a story of ambition and a “deep commitment to our people, our customers, and our communities”.
At its heart, the company is a dynamic, values-led organisation where people genuinely enjoy coming to work.
A key to its success is a commitment to internal career growth – many of its current leaders started in frontline roles, demonstrating that the company builds “long-term careers, not just filling jobs”.
Vantage Fuels (Bowser Bean) has made workplace culture a key priority, focusing on the health and wellbeing of its crew.
By linking its team to the company’s “why”, it has created an environment that harnesses internal growth.
Its initiatives are both practical and impactful, including a health and wellbeing subsidy of $299 per year, free online pilates classes, a “healthy beans” program offering a free healthy meal to every crew member on every shift, and a KPI bonus structure.
This focus on wellbeing and development creates an aligned workforce that is committed to the company’s direction.
Inclusive excellence
This year’s list also highlights companies that have excelled in creating inclusive and supportive environments for specific groups, proving that a tailored approach to culture can unlock incredible value.
• For women:
Leading the way in creating exceptional workplaces for women are companies like Level 10, G Adventures, and GAMA Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd.
Level 10 invests in its people as much as its projects.
Its leadership is approachable and its structure collaborative, with a standout Employee Health and Wellbeing Program that provides each team member with up to $1000 per year for their health and wellbeing.
G Adventures has made belonging an official pillar of its Happiness Business Model, encouraging employees to bring their whole, authentic selves to work.
GAMA Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd is committed to a holistic, inclusive, and purpose-driven approach to employee wellbeing, with a mission to improve infection prevention and patient care.
• For ethnic minorities:
Directions Conference and Incentive Management, a small family-owned business, shows how a commitment to healthy work-life balance and a family atmosphere can create an environment where ethnic minorities thrive.
With a strong staff retention rate, most of its team has been with the company for over 15 years.
It rewards dedication and long service, offers salaries that exceed industry standards, and provides end-of-year bonuses.
• For disabled employees:
Procurement Co believes that a great workplace starts with a great culture that puts people first. Its values – embrace culture, be professional, seek innovation, drive value, and adapt and grow – are at the core of their decision-making. It prioritises team connection, invests in personal and professional development, and builds the workplace on trust, collaboration, and shared success. This accumulation of everyday efforts creates a supportive, collaborative, and high-performing environment that fosters inclusion for all.
• For younger employees (16 to 34):
Too Good To Go is a purpose-driven organisation with a mission to save food from going to waste. This strong purpose resonates with younger employees, who are often looking for meaningful work. The company offers a “win-win-win business model” that benefits partners, people, and the planet. It has an inclusive culture where employees can be their authentic selves, offers the ability to work overseas, provides a strong onboarding program with a buddy system, and gives five extra days of annual leave every year, in addition to paid parental leave.
• For older employees (55-plus):
26 Degrees Global Markets has created a workplace that appeals to all ages, including the 55-plus demographic, by focusing on a supportive and engaging environment. Its headquarters, a renovated former submarine base, is a standout feature, with a dedicated wellness floor. Despite a two-day-per-week onsite requirement, this innovative space has significantly increased voluntary office attendance, fostering connection and collaboration. Its half-yearly off-site adventures also challenge employees to step outside their comfort zones, strengthening teamwork and fostering personal growth.
• For wellbeing:
GSA Management Consulting specialises in strategy and service delivery, with a strong emphasis on organisational culture. It believes culture is as important as strategy and highlights wellbeing, relationships, diversity, shared success, and fun. Its performance development and management program provides ongoing support and development, shaped by the 70/20/10 learning and development model, which focuses on building capabilities through a blend of learning, coaching, and formal training. It also has a dedicated veteran support program.
• For LGBTQ+ employees:
Advantage Air Australia has built a learning culture over 35 years, with many staff having served for more than 10 years. It hires for potential, not just ability, and reinforces a flat structure to ensure every staff member feels valued. Leaders focus on placing people where they can best succeed and grow, creating an environment that reinforces a sense of belonging and support for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
In a world of increasing demands, The Australian Best Places to Work 2025 list provides a powerful reminder: the most successful workplaces aren’t just about business; they’re about people. By prioritising employee happiness and engagement, these companies are not only building more resilient and productive teams but are also shaping the future of work in Australia. The happiness dividend is real, and these organisations are proof that a focus on culture is the smartest investment a company can make.
BEST OF THE BEST – BY ORGANISATION SIZE
Top 10 high-flyers (small)
10-49 employees
• Wayfinder Agency Pty Ltd • Verse Wealth • InvestorKit • G Adventures • GAMA Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd • Too Good To Go • GSA Management Consulting • Hudson Financial Partners • Level 10 • Honeycomb Strategy
Top 10 high-flyers (medium)
50-249 employees
• Clear Sky Financial • Collective Engineering • Clean Cruising • Harcourts • 1Cover Travel Insurance • Morrison • 26 Degrees Global Markets • Cross Docks Australia • Matt Mostyn and Tim Copper • Steel Blue
Top 7 high-flyers (big)
250-2000+ employees
• Tasty Fresh Food Co • Vantage Fuels (Bowser Bean) • Petstock • Fonterra • LJ Hooker • Nike Pacific • The Reject Shop
SPOTLIGHT AWARDS, NEXT PAGE ONLINE: WWW.THEAUSTRALIAN.COM.AU/SPECIAL-REPORTS/ BEST-PLACES-TO-WORK
Staff of Verse Wealth, a top-10 listed company in the small organisations category, and among the highly commended for inclusivity towards women, ethnic minorities, 16-34-year-olds and employee wellbeing.
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