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No two Top Workplaces are exactly alike. In fact, they come in all shapes and sizes from just about every industry. But these standout organizations share one thing in common. They’re dedicated to people-first culture excellence, and they prioritize it day in and day out. So, how do we determine if your organization deserves to be named a Top Workplace?
So, who determines if your organization is a Top Workplaces winner? Those who know you best: your employees. The Top Workplaces program starts with capturing their feedback on what matters most about your culture.
Participants of the regional and national awards programs must survey their employees using the Energage Workplace Survey. The research-backed employee engagement survey consists of 24 base statements that capture anonymous responses in four culture imperatives:
The employee engagement survey also measures:
Survey results are compared to our Top Workplaces benchmark. With more than 15 years of data from 23 million employee surveys across 70,000 organizations, your data is compared against the industry’s best-in-class.
Survey statements are based entirely on employee feedback
Top Workplaces rankings are based entirely on employee feedback. There are no essays or organization-provided content that allows for subjective analysis.
Organizations must achieve a minimum response rate
Organizations must achieve a 35% response rate to be considered for the Top Workplaces award. For organizations with fewer than 85 employees, at least 30 survey responses are required.
We rule out questionable results
Energage statistical tests look for any questionable results and ensure organizations are accurately administering the survey. Sometimes, we have to disqualify a small number of organizations based on what we find or other factors such as a low response rate.
Organizations are grouped by size band
Participating organizations are categorized into size bands, from small to large or extra-large. We do this because of a phenomenon similar to “mean reversion,” where the larger the group of people, the less extreme their scores can be.
Survey responses are compiled and scored
Companies with the highest overall average scores (in comparison to like-sized companies) qualify as Top Workplaces.
We rank companies within each size band
Organizations are ranked within their size band based solely on employee responses to the survey statements. The top employers in each size band are selected as Top Workplaces winners. We also determine a list of special awards based on standout scores on specific survey statements.
National Top Workplaces awards
National Top Workplaces includes annual and quarterly employer recognition, including USA, Industry, and Culture Excellence awards.
To be eligible, organizations must employ a minimum of 150 employees. Companies can be public, private, nonprofit, for profit, or governmental. There is no cost to participate.
For national awards, employers are categorized in four size bands:
The five organizations with top scores in each category are ranked; the other winners are listed alphabetically within each size group.
Regional Top Workplaces awards
Working together with some of the most prestigious media outlets across the nation, there are regional Top Workplaces awards in more than 55 major U.S. markets. Depending on the region, eligible organizations must have a minimum of 35 or 50 employees. Companies can be public, private, nonprofit, educational, or governmental. Like the national awards, there is no cost to participate.
Have questions? Go here to see our Top Workplaces Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).