Retention jumps 1.7 Times in the Manufacturing sector, with Wellbeing and Psychological Safety at Work
India’s manufacturing sector is undergoing a major transformation as it aims to become a global hub for production and innovation. According to the new report by Great Place To Work India, organizations that adopt people-first workplace cultures consistently outperform others across trust, engagement, and employee experience. As manufacturing contributes nearly 16% of India’s GDP and employs over 27 million people, the report highlights that strengthening workforce wellbeing and building purpose-driven workplaces are emerging as key differentiators for organizational success. It further shows that companies that prioritize employee wellbeing, trust, and psychological safety see measurable gains in attracting key talent and improving employee retention.
Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place To Work India, said, “India’s manufacturing sector ranks among the top three industries on the employee feedback, reflecting strong shopfloor sentiment. However, our study shows that only 12% are able to earn the Best Workplace recognition on our list. In this sector, 1 in 5 employees experiences medium to high burnout, underscoring persistent pressure on today’s workforce. Organisations can respond to this challenge by embedding wellbeing, purpose, and psychological safety into every step of the employee journey, enabling up to 1.6 times stronger retention outcomes. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of India’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026 for elevating the standards of the industry.”
Key Findings from the report:
- Trust and Employee Experience: Best Workplaces in Manufacturing report 8% higher Trust Index™ and 7% stronger overall employee sentiment as compared to the other workplaces.
- Gender Diversity: Manufacturing remains a male-dominated workforce, with lower female representation (11%) than the other industries combined (27%).
- Employee Wellbeing: 1 in 5 employees still experience medium or high burnout, highlighting persistent pressure on today’s workforce. Positive employee perception is the strongest for physical wellness at 93%, while other areas, such as financial stability, flexibility, emotional well-being, and work–life balance, continue to register below 85%.
- Psychological Safety: Psychological safety remains uneven across the workforce, with an overall positive perception at 88% but dropping to around 80% among Gen Z and staff-level workforce, resulting in an 8% gap in safety levels experienced by different groups.
- Involvement in decision: 80% of men experience involvement in decisions at work, as compared to 76% women.
- Retention Impact:
- Employees who are included in management’s decisions affecting their work feel a stronger sense of purpose and are 1.5 times more likely to stay.
- Employees who feel supported in their wellbeing and work-life balance, and who can speak up and learn without fear, are 1.7 times more likely to stay.
- Employees who experience psychological safety at work are 1.8 times more likely to stay, clearly showing that retention is driven by feeling safe, supported, and heard.
As the manufacturing industry accelerates its AI and digital transformation, this report moves beyond diagnosis to offer clear, practical solutions for building people-first, future-ready workplaces. It outlines how organizations can intentionally embed psychological safety, wellbeing and purpose across the talent lifecycle from attraction, onboarding, driving performance, belonging, and long-term retention. The report provides a roadmap for translating transformation into everyday employee experiences that build confidence, trust, and capability.
Great Place To Work India has recognized organizations that exemplify these practices as India’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026. These companies demonstrate how high-trust, people-first cultures translate into tangible benefits for employees and businesses alike, setting benchmarks for the wider industry.
This year, Great Place To Work recognized Top 50 Large Organizations (1000 employees or more) and Top 30 Mid-size Organizations (100-999 employees) among India’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026.
Here is the List of the Top 25 Large Companies recognized as a part of India’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026 list (the list is in alphabetical order).
For the complete list of winners, please visit https://www.greatplacetowork.in/indias-best-workplaces-in-manufacturing :
- Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Limited
- Anmol Industries Limited
- Century Plyboards (I) Limited
- Coal India Limited
- Coats India
- Eastman Auto & Power Limited
- EPL Limited
- Forbes Marshall Private Limited
- Garware Technical Fibres Limited
- Gokaldas Exports Limited
- Haleon (GSK APL, GSK CPL)
- Joyson Anand Abhishek Safety System
- JSW Energy Limited
- Kalyani Technoforge Limited
- Kohler India Corporation Private Limited
- Lucas TVS Limited
- National Engineering Industries Limited (NBC Bearings) – A CK Birla Group Company
- Navitasys India Private Limited
- PGP Glass Private Limited
- Schneider Electric India Private Limited
- Tirupati Group (Tirupati Medicare Limited)
- United Spirits Limited (Diageo India)
- Uno Minda Group
- Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Jharsuguda
- Welspun Living Limited
As the manufacturing sector deepens its role in India’s economic growth, a strong emphasis on trust, leadership, and people-first practices is emerging as a critical differentiator. When human-centric strategies are integrated with technological adoption, they enable a workforce that is resilient, future-skilled, and capable of driving innovation and sustained performance, setting the direction for the next phase of Indian manufacturing.
