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    FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Best Practice Institute today?

    Best Practice Institute (BPI) is the research and certification organization behind the Most Loved Workplace® program. Founded in 2001 by CEO Louis Carter, BPI runs the Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces Global list (featured in The Economist) and the Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces in America list (featured in the Wall Street Journal), publishes SPARK-based culture research, and certifies companies on the employee experience that actually drives performance.

    What is the Most Loved Workplace® certification?

    Most Loved Workplace® is an employee-validated certification built on the SPARK framework and grounded in the largest dataset of its kind: 2.8 million employees and 1,800+ companies analyzed. Certification signals that employees genuinely love where they work — not just tolerate it — and unlocks eligibility for the Top 100 lists.

    What is SPARK?

    SPARK is BPI's research-backed framework for what makes a workplace genuinely loved:

    • S — Systemic Collaboration
    • P — Positive Vision of the Future
    • A — Alignment of Values
    • R — Respect
    • K — Killer Achievement

    Every certification, ranking, and Workplace Report is scored against SPARK.

    Why does certification matter to a CEO or CHRO?

    The outcomes are measurable:

    • 92% of candidates apply because a company is Most Loved Workplace® certified
    • 4× higher performance in certified organizations
    • 48% lower turnover in certified organizations

    It is the strongest employer-brand signal a CEO can put in market, and it compounds in recruiting, retention, and revenue.

    What are the Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces lists?

    Two distinct annual lists, ranked from BPI's certification data and independent employee research:

    • Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces Global — featured in The Economist
    • Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces in America — featured in the Wall Street Journal

    Each list has its own methodology window, eligibility pool, and editorial moment.

    What are all the Most Loved Workplaces® lists in 2026?

    BPI publishes three flagship Top 100 lists plus thirteen affinity/specialist lists, each timed to a cultural moment. Application deadlines and publish months for 2026:

    Flagship lists

    ListApplication deadlinePublishes
    Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces®March 31, 2026May 2026
    America's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces®May 31, 2026October 2026
    UK's Top Most Loved Workplaces®November 12, 2026November 2026

    Affinity & specialist lists

    ListDeadlinePublishesAligned to
    Most Loved Workplaces® for Career AdvancementDec 13, 2025January 2026National Mentoring Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for DiversityJan 31, 2026February 2026Black History Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for WomenMar 19, 2026March 2026Women's History Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for NeurodiversityApr 4, 2026April 2026World Autism Awareness Day
    Most Loved Workplaces® for Mental HealthApr 30, 2026May 2026Mental Health Awareness Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for LGBTQ+May 31, 2026June 2026Pride Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for Young ProfessionalsJune 30, 2026July 2026National Intern Day
    Most Loved Workplaces® for WellnessJuly 31, 2026August 2026National Wellness Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for Parents & CaregiversAug 31, 2026September 2026National Working Parents Day
    Most Loved CEOsSep 30, 2026October 2026National Boss's Day
    Most Loved Workplaces® for DisabilitiesSep 30, 2026October 2026National Disability Employment Awareness Month
    Most Loved Workplaces® for VeteransOct 31, 2026November 2026Veteran's Day
    Most Loved Workplaces® for VolunteeringNov 30, 2026December 2026International Volunteer Day

    To be considered for any list, start with Most Loved Workplace® certification — book a 30-min working session.

    When is the 2026 Top 100 published?

    Coming soon. The 2026 Global and America's lists have not been released yet. Certified and shortlisted companies are currently shown alphabetically on the directory pages; ranked positions (#1–#100) go live on publish day in coordination with our media partners.

    How does a company get certified or considered for the Top 100?

    The path is short:

    1. Take the Most Loved Workplace® assessment
    2. Run the employee survey (BPI handles distribution and scoring)
    3. Receive your SPARK scorecard and certification decision
    4. Certified companies become eligible for the Top 100 Global and America's lists

    The fastest way to start is a 30-minute intro call with our team — see the last question below.

    Who is BPI for?

    CEOs, CHROs, and Heads of Talent, Employer Brand, and Culture at mid-market through Fortune 500 companies who want their workplace recognized for what it actually is — and who want the recruiting, retention, and performance lift that comes with it.

    What else does BPI publish?

    • Workplace Reports — long-form, SPARK-scored profiles of certified companies
    • CEO interviews and the CEO repository — verified bios and on-record perspectives from the leaders behind Most Loved Workplaces
    • Expert faculty and webinars — practitioner-led sessions on culture, talent, and leadership
    • Research archive — two decades of BPI studies, case work, and frameworks

    How do I get in touch?

    For certification, Top 100 eligibility, employer-branding partnerships, or media inquiries, book a 30-minute working session with our Workplace Certification & Visibility Specialist — she'll route you to the right team:

    👉 Book a 30-min working session

    Prefer email or a form? Use the contact page.

    Looking for something else? Visit the About hub or contact our team.

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.