El Corte Inglés, Galeries Lafayette, and John Lewis earn recognition in FT's 2025 employer ranking
What: European retail sector dominates FT's Best Employers 2025 ranking, with department stores like Galeries Lafayette, John Lewis, Printemps, and El Corte Inglés recognised for workplace excellence.
Why it is important: This recognition demonstrates how traditional retailers are successfully transforming their workplace cultures to meet modern employee expectations while maintaining operational excellence.
The Financial Times and Statista's inaugural ranking of Europe's Best Employers features 1,000 companies across 26 industries, with retail emerging as a dominant sector. The survey, based on anonymous employee feedback, evaluated companies on factors including workplace culture, employee engagement, and benefits. Germany leads with the highest number of companies across sectors, benefiting from strong employment rights including generous parental leave and worker representation on supervisory boards. Major department stores like Galeries Lafayette, John Lewis, Printemps, and El Corte Inglés are recognised for successfully balancing traditional retail operations with modern workplace practices. The retail sector's strong showing challenges traditional perceptions of the industry as offering limited career opportunities, demonstrating how companies are creating engaging work environments that value employee development and well-being.
IADS Notes: The inclusion of major European department stores in FT's Best Employers ranking reflects their successful workplace transformation. According to Fashion Network's April 2025 coverage , Galeries Lafayette's new CSR strategy "Rêvons Demain" emphasises human development alongside commercial goals, achieving significant employee engagement through initiatives like sustainable practices and skills development. El Economista's February 2025 analysis showed how El Corte Inglés's €428 million investment in store modernisation includes significant focus on workplace innovation and employee training programs. LSA Conso's March 2025 report revealed how Printemps' transformation strategy combines operational excellence with strong employee engagement, particularly in its experiential retail initiatives. Fashion Network's November 2024 coverage demonstrated how Galeries Lafayette Haussmann's 15% sales growth was supported by enhanced staff training and development programs. These retailers' recognition as top employers highlights how successful department stores are balancing traditional retail strengths with modern workplace practices to attract and retain
