Introducing Earned First's Workplace Monitor

Earned First is launching the Workplace Monitor 2026, a new research initiative designed to assess what PR agencies and in-house communications departments across Asia-Pacific are really like to work at.

The Workplace Monitor aims to provide the communications industry with a rigorous, data-driven benchmark around workplace culture, leadership, career development, remuneration, wellbeing, AI adoption and diversity practices — alongside broader employee sentiment and retention indicators.

Participating organisations can receive comparative insight into how employees perceive their workplace across a wide range of areas including:

• Workplace culture and leadership
• Manager quality and team dynamics
• Career development and progression
• Remuneration and benefits
• AI and technology adoption
• Flexible working and wellbeing
• DEI and local market empowerment

The research will also explore open-ended themes including leadership quality, AI’s practical impact on communications work, future skills gaps, and which organisations are viewed as the sector’s most desirable employers.

For PR consultancies, participation in the Workplace Monitor will inform the Talent & Culture category within Earned First’s Consultancy Performance Index. Participation will link directly to eligibility for certain top honours within the index process.

Survey structure

• Each participating organisation will receive a dedicated survey link hosted via Fillout
• Agencies & in-house departments may request participation links via hello@earned-first.com

The survey process will remain open for five weeks, with a target closing date of 10 July 2026.

Participation requirements

There is no minimum employee participation threshold. However, higher participation rates will improve the robustness of results and increase the likelihood of recognition. Entries must represent entire organisations rather than individual offices or markets.

In-house communications departments are also encouraged to participate in the Workplace Monitor, with separate benchmarking and index category development currently under consideration for future editions.

Participation in the Workplace Monitor does not carry any cost. The study begins in Asia-Pacific, before expanding to the Middle East later this year and Africa in 2027.

We believe the communications industry has lacked meaningful independent benchmarking around workplace quality, employee experience and organisational culture for too long. The Workplace Monitor is intended to help identify the organisations building the strongest, healthiest and most future-ready communications environments across the region.

To participate, or for any questions, please contact hello@earned-first.com.