Why Paycom Was Named a 2026 Platinum Employer on the Where You Work Matters List

Workforce research from LinkedIn shows that employees increasingly value roles that support growth, development and long‑term sustainability. In fact, 80% of CEOs say they feel external pressure to improve human sustainability, including career advancement and long-term employability. In this environment, job quality has become a measurable business outcome rather than just a cultural aspiration.

A new national accolade is rewarding those organizations that invest, not only in benefits, but growth for their employees. The Where You Work Matters List is powered by the American Opportunity Index and led by the Burning Glass Institute and the Schultz Family Foundation in partnership with Harvard Business School. The analysis evaluates workforce outcomes for more than 12 million workers across 1,750 employers and 923 occupations, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of job quality in the U.S. economy.

Job Quality as a Measurable Outcome

Rather than relying on surveys or employer self-reported data, the Where You Work Matters methodology focuses on outcomes that directly affect employees. These include wage progression, retention, internal mobility and access to advancement opportunities. Recognition at the Platinum level reflects sustained performance across these areas.

Only 22 companies received Platinum recognition, including Boeing, Mayo Clinic, Qualtrics, Texas Instruments and General Motors. In the HR and payroll industry, Paycom was the only company to receive the program’s highest overall distinction. The recognition is based on large-scale workforce outcomes, including creating high-quality jobs, supporting career advancement, offering competitive wages and retaining talent.

Investing in Employee Development and Career Growth

A core contributor to job quality is whether employees have clear, accessible pathways to grow within an organization. Paycom supports career growth through structured training, leadership development and ongoing upskilling designed to help employees build new capabilities and progress into expanded or new roles over time.

These development efforts are paired with opportunities that allow employees to apply their skills across teams and career paths as business needs evolve. By giving employees visibility into growth opportunities and the skills required to reach them, organizations can strengthen retention and long-term engagement.

Companies like Paycom also supports career continuity through competitive wages and benefits that help employees remain focused on growth and performance. When combined with development and advancement opportunities, these benefits contribute to workforce stability and sustain employee participation over time.

By prioritizing development as an ongoing process rather than a periodic initiative, organizations can create greater continuity and resilience for both employees and the business.

Technology That Supports Workforce Outcomes

Paycom’s workforce strategy is supported by its automated, single database HR and payroll software, which helps streamline employee development by centralizing learning, certifications and performance management in one system of record.

This approach reduces administrative complexity and allows HR teams and leaders to focus more time on coaching, development and strategic workforce planning. By simplifying how employee data is accessed and managed, organizations can more consistently support growth, advancement and internal mobility across roles.

Automation plays a supporting role by removing manual steps and disconnected systems that can slow decision-making or create friction for employees and managers. The result is a more consistent experience that helps scale job quality across the organization.

Setting a Standard for Job Quality

As organizations continue to navigate workforce change, recognition programs grounded in measurable outcomes offer a clearer picture of what effective workforce strategies look like in practice.

For Paycom and others earning Platinum status reflects a sustained focus on creating roles that support growth, stability and long-term opportunity, reinforcing the connection between job quality, employee experience and business performance.