Stand out with an award-winningThere are a lot of workplace awards out there. So how do you know which ones actually mean something?
If you’re comparing Top Workplaces awards with a Great Place to Work certification or another workplace recognition program, you probably have a few questions. Who decides the winners? Can companies pay to participate? And does recognition reflect what employees really think about working there?
All important questions. Let us lay it out. Top Workplaces recognition is built around one thing: employee feedback. No judging panels decide which companies have the best story to tell. Instead, employees share their experience through a confidential employee feedback survey, and those results determine whether an organization earns recognition.
That employee-driven approach gives Top Workplaces awards their credibility. It also means recognition reflects the people who know your workplace best.
12 things employers should know about Top Workplaces employer recognition awards
1. Employees choose the winners
Your employees know your workplace better than anyone.
That’s why Top Workplaces awards are based on what they have to say about their experience. There are no essays to write, presentations to prepare, or judges to impress.
Employees complete the Workplace Survey, a confidential employee engagement survey, and their feedback determines whether your organization meets the benchmark for Top Workplaces recognition.
2. You can't buy your way onto a Top Workplaces list
There’s no sponsorship package or advertising spend that can secure an award. For you as an HR leader, that distinction matters because recognition carries more weight when employees, not a marketing budget, determine the outcome.
Organizations earn Top Workplaces recognition based on employee survey results. That separation between recognition and marketing spend helps protect the credibility of the award.
You earn it because of the workplace you’ve built.
3. Top Workplaces benchmarks are built on more than 30 million voices
A workplace recognition award means more when it’s backed by meaningful data.
Top Workplaces benchmarks are powered by more than 30 million employee survey responses collected across thousands of organizations.
That gives employers more than a participation badge. Your results are measured against a deep body of workplace culture data that helps identify organizations creating standout employee experiences.
4. Great workplace cultures come in every shape and size
You don’t have to be a household name to build a great workplace.
Top Workplaces winners include nonprofits, healthcare organizations, school districts, family-owned businesses, startups, large enterprises, and organizations across a wide range of industries.
Great culture isn’t reserved for one type of company. If your people believe in the workplace you’re creating, your organization has an opportunity to be recognized for it.
5. Small organizations aren't expected to compete with corporate giants
If you lead HR at a smaller organization, this may be one of your first questions. How can your workplace compete with an employer that has thousands of employees and a much larger budget?
The good news is that you’re not expected to.
Top Workplaces compares organizations with peers of similar size. So recognition is less about the resources behind your employer brand and more about what employees say about their workplace experience.
6. Recognition means more when it comes from your people
There are plenty of workplace recognition awards that can help you tell the world you’re a great employer.
But when your own employees validate that message, it carries a different kind of weight.
Top Workplaces recognition gives employers third-party credibility rooted in employee voice. That can help candidates, customers, partners, and your own people feel more confident about the culture behind your brand.
Instead of simply saying you have a great workplace, your employees help prove it.
7. Survey integrity is non-negotiable
Employee feedback only matters when employees feel comfortable being honest.
That’s why the Top Workplaces process is designed to protect the integrity of survey responses. Organizations should never pressure employees, tell them how to respond, or attempt to influence their answers.
In fact, organizations can be disqualified for trying to manipulate results.
The goal isn’t to collect perfect scores. It’s to understand the workplace your employees actually experience.
8. Winning requires more than being "good"
A positive workplace is a great starting point, but Top Workplaces recognition goes further.
Award-winning organizations must meet established workplace culture benchmarks based on employee feedback.
That means recognition isn’t simply given to every company that participates. Organizations earn it by demonstrating a strong employee experience compared with relevant benchmarks.
And if you’re recognized, you know the award represents something meaningful.
9. One survey opens the door to multiple award opportunities
Here’s one of the biggest advantages of the Top Workplaces program: you don’t have to start from scratch every time an award opportunity comes around.
One employee feedback survey can qualify your organization for multiple Top Workplaces awards over the next 12 months.
Depending on eligibility, that can include:
- Regional Top Workplaces awards
- National Top Workplaces awards
- Industry awards
- Culture Excellence awards
That can make the process much more practical for an HR team. Rather than running separate campaigns for every award, one survey can create several workplace recognition opportunities throughout the year.
10. Top Workplaces participation is confidential
What happens if you participate and don’t earn an award?
Your participation remains confidential.
Only organizations that earn Top Workplaces recognition are publicly announced. If your organization doesn’t meet the benchmark, you aren’t added to a public list of companies that participated but didn’t win.
That gives you the opportunity to listen, learn, and use the feedback to strengthen your culture without putting your reputation on the line.
11. There's value in participating even if you don't win
Recognition is exciting, but the survey itself can be just as valuable.
Employee feedback can help you better understand what’s working, where employees may be struggling, and where there are opportunities to strengthen the workplace experience.
Those insights can inform conversations around engagement, retention, leadership, development, and workplace culture.
So even if an award isn’t the immediate outcome, you’re still learning something important about your organization from the people experiencing it every day.
12. Top Workplaces is more than one award
It’s easy to think of Top Workplaces as a single list or annual award.
It’s much bigger than that.
Organizations can qualify for regional, national, industry, and Culture Excellence awards. That gives you multiple opportunities to showcase different strengths across your workplace and build recognition over time.
And because those opportunities can begin with one employee survey, Top Workplaces recognition can become an ongoing part of how you listen to employees and celebrate your culture.
Why Top Workplaces Awards Matter
Recognition only carries weight when people trust how it was earned.
That’s what makes employee-driven workplace recognition so valuable.
Top Workplaces awards aren’t based on the strongest nomination essay or the biggest marketing budget. They’re earned through confidential employee feedback and measured against established workplace culture benchmarks.
For your organization, that kind of credibility can give you meaningful proof that the culture you’re working to build is showing up in the employee experience.
You can use Top Workplaces recognition to strengthen your employer brand, stand out to job candidates, celebrate employees, build trust with customers, and show the marketplace that your workplace culture has been validated by the people who experience it firsthand.
And it all starts with listening.
If you think your employees would recommend your organization as a great place to work, give them the opportunity to say so.
You don’t have to know you’ll win to take the first step. Nominate your organization for Top Workplaces awards.
Hear what matters to your employees and see how your culture measures up. If you earn recognition, celebrate it. If you don’t, your participation stays confidential, and the feedback gives you a place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Top Workplaces Awards
How are Top Workplaces winners selected?
Top Workplaces winners are determined through employee feedback collected through the Energage Workplace Survey, a confidential employee engagement survey. Survey results are evaluated against established workplace culture benchmarks to determine which organizations earn recognition.
Can companies buy a Top Workplaces award?
No. Organizations cannot purchase Top Workplaces recognition. Awards are earned based on employee survey results, not advertising spend or sponsorship.
Is Top Workplaces participation confidential?
Yes. Participation is confidential. Only organizations that earn Top Workplaces recognition are publicly announced.
Can one survey qualify an organization for multiple awards?
Yes. One employee feedback survey can qualify eligible organizations for multiple Top Workplaces award opportunities over the following 12 months, including regional, national, industry, and Culture Excellence awards.
Why do Top Workplaces awards matter?
Top Workplaces awards help organizations turn employee feedback into credible third-party recognition. Employers can use that recognition to strengthen employer branding, support talent attraction, celebrate workplace culture, and demonstrate that their employee experience has been validated by their own people.
