Dive Brief:

• Starbucks is the number one retail company when it comes to happy employees, according to CareerBliss, which rates employers by "happiest" places to work.
• CareerBliss evaluated thousands of independent company reviews, gathered by posts from employees rating workplaces based on several factors that drive professional happiness. 
• Ace Hardware, Ikea, Apple and Barnes & Noble round out the top five, followed by Lowe's, Best Buy, Walgreens, Home Depot and Office Depot.

Dive Insight:

“Despite recent excitement about Starbucks marketing choices with their infamous Red Cup, Starbucks has high marks where it counts: employee happiness," says Heidi Golledge, CareerBliss Chief Happiness Officer and cofounder of the company. "The employee reviews on CareerBliss rank Starbucks as the number one retail employer in the United States when it comes to employee happiness."

CareerBliss' key happiness factors for retailers include relationship with management and company CEO, compensation, workplace environment, growth opportunities, satisfaction with job role, and one’s overall workplace setting. As noted, the results are generated from CareerBliss.com review submissions and serve to provide insight into employers.

CareerBliss told Forbes that every top 10 retail employer receive "high marks" from employees in three crucial areas: Positive relationships with coworkers, strong employer support, and the opportunity for professional growth.