Building Better Workplaces: Findings from Franchising’s Largest Workforce Study

Resource Center | Resources | Mon Sep, 2026 | 1 min read

Ali Forman

Ali Forman, Director of Editorial Content

Franchise Business Review

Franchise Business Review presents the findings of the 2026 Franchising at WORK Employee Satisfaction Study, the only benchmarking research that captures the authentic experience of employees across the franchise sector.

Based on more than 9,500 survey responses from franchise corporate teams and unit-level employees, this year’s findings reveal what’s really driving engagement, loyalty, and workplace culture in franchising today. You’ll hear the latest trends shaping the employee experience and learn which franchise companies are this year’s 2026 Employee Satisfaction Award winners.

Key takeaways:

  • The top themes shaping the employee experience in 2026
  • How franchise employee engagement compares to national benchmarks
  • What today’s best companies do differently to strengthen trust, retention, and team alignment
  • The trends impacting hiring, engagement, and retention
  • Which franchise organizations earned top honors in this year’s Employee Satisfaction Awards

Employee sentiment is one of the strongest predictors of operational performance and a powerful competitive differentiator in today’s labor market. This research gives franchisors a clear, data-driven view into what employees need to stay engaged, motivated, and committed to brand success.

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About The Author

Ali Forman

Ali Forman, Director of Editorial Content

Franchise Business Review

As the Director of Editorial Content, Ali leads FBR’s content strategy and creates high-quality, engaging resources to educate and inspire both franchise companies and future franchise owners. Ali’s previous experience includes senior marketing communications and content development roles in the employee benefits, data privacy, and publishing sectors. She lives in Maine with her husband and two sons.

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