Great Place to Work announces the Best Workplaces in Asia 2021

Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture, surveyed over 3.3 million employees from across 16 diverse countries and cultures in Asia and the Middle East to determine the Best Workplaces in Asia 2021. This is the largest survey of employee experiences in Asia.

To be named as best in Asia, these 200 companies were first among the highest ranked on Great Place to Work Best Workplaces National lists across the region over the past two years. This recognition is based on confidential survey data assessing employee experiences of trust, innovation, company values and leadership. Companies are also evaluated on how well they are creating a For All workplace experience, inclusive of all employees no matter who they are or what they do.

On average, companies ranked on the Best Workplaces in Asia scored 10% better than those that made it to the National list level — an incredibly high bar as such workplaces are the best of the best in their own country. The Best Workplaces in Asia also had 15% more employees report:

• Feeling that management involves people in its decision-making

• Receiving special and unique benefits 

• Receiving a fair share of the profits made by the organisation

For companies on National lists across Asia, 70% of employees said they experience well-being at work (defined by factors such as feeling cared for and believing their workplace is a psychologically and emotionally healthy place to work). But that number jumps even higher to 81% at the Best Workplaces in Asia. 

“The Best Workplaces in Asia set the bar for company culture by supporting employee well-being and building inclusive workplaces that are good for everyone,” Great Place to Work Global CEO Michael C. Bush said. “They demonstrate how much they value their most important resource – their people.”

“In spite of spiralling global pandemic that continues to challenge the workplace, the fact that remains the same is, workplaces that are great for people are also great for business,” said GPTW Sri Lanka CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka. 

“We are honoured to recognise a record breaking number of 37 organisations in Sri Lanka that have ranked amongst Asian’s Best Workplaces in 2021 by investing in their people and building a high trust – high performance culture.” 

Highlights from the Best Workplaces in Asia 2021

Topping the list for the second year in a row in the multinational category are shipping company DHL Express and hotelier Hilton – both holding onto their 2020 first and second-place rankings, respectively among 30 MNCs recognised. 

In the large category, Talawakelle Tea Estates was second in place while Hirdaramani Clothing and Gamma Pizzakraft Lanka were among the 20 highest ranked from 70 Asian organisations. 

In the Small and Medium Category Oxford College of Business was the highest ranked Sri Lankan organisation (#9) with 99x also among the highest 20 ranked in Asia from 100 SME workplaces recognised on the list. 

The increase in number of organisations selected to the list resulted is recognition opportunity for Sri Lankan organisations growing by 300% and several new entries making it to the list.

The following companies from Sri Lanka contributed to their respective MNCs ranking on the Asia List:

#01 DHL Express – DHL (Keells)

#02 Hilton – Hilton (Sri Lanka)

#06 Marriott – Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa

#07 Ericsson – Ericsson Telecommunication Lanka

#18 Fedex – Mountain Hawk Express – Licensee of Fedex Express

#24 Maersk – Maersk Lanka

The following organisations were ranked on the Large Category List

#02 Talawakelle Tea Estates

#52 Softlogic Life Insurance

#12 Hirdaramani Clothing

#53 Singer Finance (Lanka)

#18 Gamma Pizzakraft Lanka

#56 Miami Exports

#23 Certis Lanka Security Solutions

#59 Certis Lanka Home Nursing & Swiftcare

#37 Synergen Health

#62 Vallibel Finance

#39 HNB Finance

#64 Aqua Dynamics

#45 AIA Insurance Lanka

#67 McLarens Holdings

#47 Diesel and Motor Engineering

#70 Union Assurance

#49 Fashion Bug

The following workplaces were recognised on the Small and Medium Category List

#09 Oxford College of Business

#63 Expack Corrugated Cartons

#17 99x

#71 Advantis 3PL Plus 

#34 Neochem International

#73 Collective RCM

#42 Ascentic

#79 H-Connect

#46 BoardPAC and IronOne Technologies

#87 Advantis Free Zone

#56 Dickwella Hiru Fashion

#90 Bharti Airtel Lanka

#62 CBL Natural Foods

#95 Classic Travel

How Great Place to Work determines the Best Workplaces in Asia

Great Place to Work identifies the Best Workplaces in Asia by analysing companies’ workplace programs and surveying employees across Asia and the Middle East about the key factors that create great workplaces for all.

To be considered, companies must first be identified as outstanding in their local region by appearing on one or more of our Best Workplaces lists in Greater China (including China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), India, Japan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka or UAE or certified in their respective countries through the above named country offices.

Companies rank in three size categories: Small and Medium (10-499 employees); Large (500+); and Multinational. Multinational organisations are also assessed on their efforts to create great workplaces across multiple countries in the region. They must appear on at least two National lists in Asia and the Middle East and have at least 1,000 employees worldwide with at least 40% (or 5,000) of those employees located outside the headquarters country.