For the fifth year in a row, IHLS has been honored as a Top Workplace by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The list of Top Workplaces is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers critical to any organization's success, including alignment, execution, and connection.
Organizations achieve the esteemed Top Workplaces award by meeting or exceeding established standards based on over two decades of research into exceptional workplace qualities. To ensure fairness, organizations are categorized by size, with categories varying by award to highlight the unique strengths of each workplace.
"Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends."
We're grateful for our marvelous staff and their dedication to supporting Illinois libraries. Each employee at IHLS is responsible for helping set the tone and uphold our organization's values. They are what makes IHLS a Top Workplace.
Additional Honors: Culture Excellence & Industry Awards
This year, IHLS also took home several other Top Workplaces awards! We've been recognized as a 2026 Top Workplaces Industry winner in the nonprofit sector. Top Workplaces Industry awards celebrate organizations that have built human-centered workplace cultures within their sector.
We're pleased to announce that we've also won several Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards! These awards showcase where an organization's people-first culture excels.
Employee Appreciation
This award celebrates organizations that demonstrate gratitude for employees' efforts and that employees, in turn, are motivated to give their best at work.
Compensation & Benefits
This award celebrates the organizations that recognize employees not only with material rewards but also with appreciation for their work.
Employee Well-Being
This award celebrates organizations that hold the health and wellness of their employees at the center of their workplace culture.
Innovation
This award will celebrate organizations that have embedded innovation into their culture and create an environment where new ideas come from all employees at all levels.
Professional Development
This award celebrates organizations that value developing their employees' careers and enable them to grow professionally.
Purpose & Values
This award celebrates organizations that have embedded their mission and values into their culture and are efficient in bringing them to life.
Work-Life Flexibility
This award celebrates organizations that offer employees options in how and where they work, as well as managers who care about their employees' concerns.
