Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards finalists and Top Places to Work winners announced
Winners will be celebrated at an event at Chicago’s City Winery on April 28.
In another year with an often-unpredictable labor market, employee communications professionals were once again crucial to engaging and supporting the people who make their organization run. Their work helped current and future employees feel connected to a central purpose and culture, using technology and data to craft communications that fostered belonging during times of change.
Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards celebrates the organizations, communicators, teams, tools and campaigns that unified employees during a time of displacement and uncertainty.
All finalists will be recognized — and category winners will be announced — during a special luncheon at Chicago’s City Winery on April 28.
During this event, we’ll also be celebrating this year’s Ragan’s Top Places to Work for 2023. Those making up this year’s winning list of Top Places to Work represent the companies and organizations that shine a light on employees, foster an amazing and welcoming workplace culture for all and so much more. Those winners are announced below.
Congratulations to all nominees and finalists.
Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards
Grand Prize
Best Overall Intranet
- Bethany Children’s Health Center: BuzzCom – Bethany Children’s Health Center Intranet
- CBRE: Employee Intranet
- Chime: Chime Employee Comms
- CVS Health: CVS Health unites its 300k employees with Heartbeat
- Mattress Firm: Mattress Firm Executes Strategic Internal Campaign to Take Employee Intranet to Cloud Nine
- Seattle Children’s Hospital: CHILD: Seattle Children’s Intranet
- symplr: symplr IQ
- UKG: Global Employee Communications
Best Remote Work Experience/Culture
- Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
- Businessolver: Workspace Anywhere
- Chime: Chime Employee Comms
- eXp Realty: eXp Realty
- LIXIL Americas: LIXIL Americas FY23 Kickoff Event
- Maximus: Customer Service Week
- Muck Rack: Muck Rack’s Fully Distributed Work Culture
- NVE Experience Agency: NVE Experience Agency
- ServiceNow: Best Hybrid Work & Culture Environment and Events
- Tutor.com/The Princeton Review: Workplace Engagement and Experience
Best Use of Technology
- Baker Tilly US: Slay the Digital Workplace
- PayPal: Live Slacking
- Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
- ServiceNow: ServiceNow Platform Use & Employee Portal
Employee Communication Campaign of the Year
- ADM: ADM’s Ukraine Communications
- John Deere: Bringing John Deere Employees to CES 2022, Virtually: The Next Best Thing to Being There
- Mastercard LAC: Mastercard’s Copa América Femenina Employee Campaign
- Mattress Firm: Mattress Firm Executes Strategic Internal Campaign to Take Employee Intranet to Cloud Nine
- New York Power Authority: Powered from Within
- PepsiCo: Global Business Services Awards Program
- Pfizer: Conversation Leaders
- Prudential Financial: Vision and Strategy Launch
- T-Mobile US: Talking with Trailblazers
- USAA: Centennial Celebration
- Wolfspeed: Here’s Your Shot at a Tesla
Employee Communications Team of the Year
- Advocate Aurora Health: AAH Employee Communications Team of the Year
- FORVIS: Strategic Communications Team
- General Electric: GE to form three industry-leading public companies
- ServiceNow: Employee Comms Team of the Year
- Syngenta US: Syngenta North America Crop Protection Internal Communications Team
Content and Communications
Alignment with External Communications
- Capital One: Car Buying Outlook
- John Deere: Take the Tee for Me
- London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG): LSEG@COP26 – Mobilising finance to go further, faster
- Mastercard LAC: Mastercard’s Copa América Femenina Employee Campaign
- SAS: The Batting Lab
Benefits Communication
- 3M: Be Well Video Series
- KAMAX: Annual + Enrollment Campaign
- NFP: Schurz Total Rewards Communications
Change Communication
- AbbVie, Bay Area: ABA Office Move
- Baystate Health: The Daily Management System
- Delta Dental of California: Vaccine Information, Education and Incentive Campaign
- FORVIS: Change Hub and Integration Communications
- Lincoln Financial Group: Lincoln Financial Group CEO Transition
- University Health: University Health UKG Launch
Community Relations
- ING: ING Americas
- John Deere: Make A Wish X John Deere
- McGroarty & Co Consulting, LLC: McGroarty & Co. Consulting
- Sensata: Employee Communications
- Walt Disney World Resort: Walt Disney World Cast & Community
COVID-19 Communication
- Advocate Aurora Health: AAH COVID-19 Communication
- Bloomberg Industry Group: Helping Employees Navigate Covid-19 Workplace Changes
- Child Care Resource Center: CCRC News Update
- DXC Technology Philippines: Our multi-dimensional COVID-19 response
- Ochsner Health: Ochsner COVID-19 Employee Protection Plan
- PayPal: COVID-19 Communications
- Wolfspeed: Here’s Your Shot at a Tesla
Crisis Response
- ADM: ADM’s Ukraine Communications
- Ochsner Health: Reaching Employees During Hurricane Ida
- Providence: My Mental Health Matters
Data-Driven Communication
- Capital One: Onboarding Email Campaign
- NFP: EdChoice Data-Driven Employee Communications
- Seattle Children’s Hospital: InHouse Article Engagement Score Calculator
Email Communication
- Advocate Aurora Health: AAH Email Communications
- Batelco: “The Weekly” Digital Newsletter
- Hackensack Meridian Health: Email Communication Connects Team HMH
- Medela: New Hire E-Mail Series
- Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Employee-Generated Content
- Child Care Resource Center: CCRC News Update
- Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Infineon Americas: Infineon Americas Employer Brand Campaign
Executive/Leadership Communication
- 3M Communications: Plant & Distribution Leader Digest
- Canadian Tire Corporation: CTC Employee Share-out CEO Speech
- Cisco, Executive Communications: Enterprise Networking & Cloud
- Daiichi Sankyo: President’s Message: Post ASCO Excitement
- Delta Dental of California: Sarah Chavarria’s 90-Day Operations Transition
- Fifth Third Bank: Connecting with Leaders in a Human Way
- Payoneer: Introducing New co-CEO to the Organization
- Samuel, Son & Co: Enabling effective two-way comms
- Southern Nuclear: Real Leaders. Real Messaging.
Innovation in Internal Communications
- Cisco Systems, Inc.: Cisco Employee Check-Ins
- Delta Dental of California: 2022 Operations Communications
- LIXIL Americas: LIXIL Americas FY23 Kickoff Event
- London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG): A poem for LSEG
- SAP Brazil: Circular
- Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Manager Communications
- Capital One: People Leader Digest
- Maximus: Leadership Connection
Mission and Values Communication
- Allogene Therapeutics: One Allogene
- Atrium Health: Culture Commitments
- Canadian Tire Corporation: Employee Share-Out
- Coast Capital Savings: The Coast Way
- Food Lion, LLC: My Story of Belonging
- New York Power Authority: Powered from Within
- Paycom Internal Communications: New Paycom values campaign
- ServiceNow: Leadership Video & Communication
Partnership with Human Resources
- AIR Communities: Annual Engagement Survey
- Encompass Health: Encompass Health Hive Employee App
Podcast
- Ethos Creative Group: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Intent to Impact
- Syngenta US: Syngenta North America Crop Protection Internal Communications Team
- Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Pulse Survey
- Capital One: Financial Services Communications and Associate Initiatives Survey
- Hello Benefits: Mental Wellness Employee Survey
- John Hancock Wealth and Asset Management, U.S. and Europe: Mission Feedback Group
Rebranding Campaign
- Maximus: You & Our Brand
- Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Recruitment Campaign
- Guthrie: Your Career in Full Color
- John Deere: Technology Worker Recruitment Campaign
Return-to-Workplace Communication
- Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago: FHLBC Return to Office Employee Communications Campaign
- Mastercard: Mastercard’s Return-to-Office Influencer’s Stories Campaign
- Pacific Life: Workplace+
- ServiceNow: RTW ServiceNow Celebrations Campaign & Comms
Use of Social Media
- Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Disney Cast Life
- McGroarty & Co Consulting, LLC: McGroarty & Co. Consulting
- Retail Business Services: Retail Business Services – National Compliment Day
Visual Storytelling
- CBRE: Courageous Conversations
- Fifth Third Bank: A Season to Remember
Employee Experience
Amazing Workplace Culture
- Allogene Therapeutics: One Allogene
- Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
- CarParts.com: Customer Focused, Safety First, and a Commitment to Excellence
- Cohen Veterans Network: CVN: Integrity, Community, Excellence
- OM1: Amazing OMies
- Tutor.com/The Princeton Review: Workplace Engagement and Experience
Corporate Social Responsibility/ESG Initiatives
- Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene’s Inaugural ESG Report
- Department of Culture and Tourism: Corporate Social Responsibility Unit
- TEAM LEWIS: Boosting Culture By Giving Back
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment
- Bazaarvoice: DE&I Taskforce
- Curaleaf: Curaleaf’s “People First” Culture
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: DEI Organizational Transformation
- Ethos Creative Group: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Intent to Impact
- Exelon: IT DE&I Dialogue
- Office of the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Labor: 508 Matters
- Syngenta US: Syngenta North America Crop Protection Internal Communications Team
- T-Mobile US: 365 Black History Month
- UKG Global Employee Communications: UKG creates a culture centered around DEI&B
Employee Education/Training Program
- John Hancock Investment Management: Fuel Up Friday
- Stein IAS: Learn for Your Life
- Worten – Equipamentos para o lar, SA: Unlock Your Power
Employee Engagement
- AIR Communities: Annual Engagement Survey
- Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
- John Deere: Make A Wish X John Deere
- Mastercard LAC: Mastercard’s Copa América Femenina Employee Campaign
- New York Power Authority: Powered from Within
- Pfizer: Conversation Leaders
- Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
- The Kroger Co.: @KrogerFamily Instagram Page
Employee Recognition or Reward Program
- Canidae: Canidae Top Dog Award
- Samuel, Son & Co.: Fostering a culture of appreciation and connection
- UKG: Celebrate U!
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- ING: ING Americas
- Ochsner Health: Bringing Your Whole Self to Work – ERG Communications 2022
Employee Well-Being Program
- Canidae: Canidae Mental Health Awareness Month
- Infineon Americas: Infineon Americas InFit Walking Challenge
- Innovecs: InnoClub Community
- PepsiCo: Move for Good
- Providence: My Mental Health Matters
Internal Event Strategy
- AbbVie: Bay Area, AbbVie, Bay Area, Grand Opening
- Aflac: Aflac Employee Engagement Week 2022
- Alexion: Uniquely Alexion Celebration 2022
- BAE Systems: BAE Systems: Extraordinary Executive Communications
- Honeywell: Safety Week Campaign
- Mastercard: Mastercard’s First Town Hall of 2022 for LAC
- ServiceNow: Best Hybrid Work & Culture Environment and Events
Intranet Collaboration & Innovation
Employee Engagement
- G&S: The Gist
- Sunrise Banks, N.A.: Life@Sunrise
Employee Recognition
- Checkmarx: Checkmarx Human Resources
- Samuel, Son & Co.: Fostering a culture of appreciation and connection
Internal Social Network
- G&S: The Gist
- North Texas Food Bank: Using ‘Community’ to Engage Food Bankers
- Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
Launch or Relaunch
- Aflac: Aflac Hub Intranet Launch
- Capital One: Pulse Intranet Launch
- Flagship Pioneering: Curie: Flagship Pioneering’s Intranet
- G&S: The Gist
- Guthrie: Intranet Redesign
- PepsiCo: Global Business Services Yammer Community
Intranet Content
Best Feature/Section
- Baker Tilly: More to My Story
- Integral: Lam Intranet Series
- John Deere: John Deere Ukraine Relief Efforts
- Mastercard: Up On Strategy
- Mizuho Americas: The Sustainability Hub
- Prudential Communications: Giving a coworker the gift of life
Instructional or Educational Content
- Baker Tilly US: Slay the Digital Workplace
- Manulife: Demystifying Manulife Canada
- Mizuho Americas: The Sustainability Hub
- Stein IAS: The Universal Knowledge Foundation
- TaskUs: The Academy
Publications (Electronic and Print)
Annual Report or CSR/ESG Report
- Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene’s Inaugural ESG Report
- Chugach Alaska Corporation: Chugach Annual Report: Honoring the Past, Navigating the Future
- John Deere: John Deere Sustainability Report
Article Series/Blog
- ADM: ADM’s Ukraine Communications
- MUFG Union Bank: Inside U.S. Bank Series
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Energy Sciences Center Profiles
- symplr: Blog Content Production Process
Feature Article
- Chugach Alaska Corporation: Inside the Rise of Women Leading Alaska Native Corporations
- Fifth Third Bank: Living a Dream, Recalling a Nightmare
- Manulife: Canada Communications
- Seattle Children’s Hospital: InHouse Article
- USAA: Fate – Feature Article
Internal Email Campaign
- Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
- Ethos Creative Group: Caring for Each Other
Interview or Profile
- Baker Tilly: More to My Story
- Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Building Top Teams Without Bias
- John Hancock Investments: 6 questions for …
- symplr: symplr Honors Personal Connection to DAISY Award
Newsletter
- Accolade Inc.: In Case You Missed It
- Canidae: Canidae Crew News
- Cisco, Executive Communications: Enterprise Networking & Cloud
- EvolveMKD: EvolveMKD Quarterly Newsletter
- Mastercard: Mastercard’s LAC Insider
- New York Power Authority: Inside Operations
- Novavax: The Jab: Revamp of Internal Newsletter
- NVE Experience Agency: NVE Experience Agency
- Retail Business Services: The Daily Dish
- Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Remote Culture
Virtual Employee Engagement
- Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
- Bayer: #GoMove Global Virtual Mission
- Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
- Curaleaf: Curaleaf’s “People First” Culture
- Maximus: Customer Service Week
- Tutor.com/The Princeton Review: Workplace Engagement and Experience
Virtual Events/Celebrations
- AAA Club Alliance (ACA): ACA’s Virtual Amazing Race!
- Canadian Tire Corporation: Employee Share-Out
- Coast Capital: One Coast and Leaders Forum
- Maximus: Juneteenth Carnival
- Teradata: Together LIVE!
- Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Virtual Executive Communication
- Advocate Aurora Health: AAH Virtual Executive Communications
- Canadian Tire Corporation: Employee Share-Out
- Cisco, Executive Communications: Enterprise Networking & Cloud
Virtual Onboarding
- Samuel, Son & Co. with Unily: Putting a culture of trust, transparency and wellbeing into onboarding
- Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Virtual Town Hall
- LIXIL Americas: LIXIL Americas FY23 Kickoff Event
- Mastercard: Mastercard’s First Town Hall of 2022 for LAC
- Notre Dame International: NDI Global Town Hall
- PepsiCo: GBS Mytaverse Town Hall
- The Regional Municipality of Durham: Durham Region CAO Town Halls
- Travel + Leisure Co.: Travel + Leisure Co. Virtual Global Town Halls
- Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Technology
- Cresco Labs: Lighting Up The Joint
- Encompass Health: Encompass Health Hive Employee App
- Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
- Worten – Equipamentos para o lar, SA: Employee App myWorten
Video
DE&I Video
- Exelon: IT DE&I Dialogue
- Food Lion, LLC: My Story of Belonging
- Symplr: Dia De Los Muertos | Tribute for Greg Hall by ERG SHINE
- The Regional Municipality of Durham: Durham Employee Census – Internal Video
Humorous Video
- Baker Tilly US: Slay the Digital Workplace
- Checkmarx: Checkmarx Human Resources
- Flagship Pioneering: The Office (SLT Mockumentary)
- SAS Institute: National “No Phishing” Day
Informational Video
- Child Care Resource Center: CCRC News Update
- Mizuho Americas: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Finance and ESG
- Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Inspirational Video
- Prudential Communications: Giving a coworker the gift of life
- New York Power Authority: Eureka! Innovation Challenge Launch Video
- Bethany Children’s Health Center: Kaleb’s First Steps
- Mastercard LAC: What happens when the ball starts rolling? Video
Recruitment Video
- FHLBank of Chicago: Buddy Program Spotlight
- Guthrie: Your Career in Full Color
- Infineon Americas: Infineon Americas Employer Brand Anthem Video
- Mizuho Americas: A Day in the Life at Mizuho: An Analyst’s Perspective
- Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Top Places to Work
Large Organization (More than 1,000 Employees)
- Alkermes
- Audible
- Curaleaf
- Department of Culture and Tourism: Internal Communication Section
- eXp Realty
- John Hancock
- McDermott Will & Emery
- ServiceNow
- The Guthrie Clinic
- Tutor.com/The Princeton Review
Mid-Size Organization (100–1,000 Employees)
- Array Behavioral Care
- Canidae
- Coyne PR
- Hotwire
- ING
- Kivvit
- Merit America
- Morning Consult
- Mower
- TEAM LEWIS
- Wray Ward
Small Organization (Less than 100 Employees)
- Brodeur Partners
- Clyde Group
- Cohen Veterans Network
- Corporate Ink
- EvolveMKD
- Identity
- iQ 360
- Ketner Group
- Peppercomm
- Rinck Advertising
- SourceCode Communications
- Stanton Communications
- Stein IAS
- The Levinson Group
Finalists for a job or an account may sound alike to those who hire, so many selection committees pick winners chosen by PR Daily experts and educators.
Even when clients and employers don’t know what to expect from PR or how to judge the success of what was done, it seems safe and is to pick winners if they will work for what has been budgeted or not too much more. Otherwise what, hire a loser or one who didn’t feel successful enough to compete?