

This program is now closed.
Learn more about current programs here.
RECOGNITION
EACH CATEGORY WINNER WILL RECIEVE:





Employees are the lifeblood of your organization.
When they’re informed and engaged—and their diverse backgrounds and viewpoints are heard and championed—organizations flourish, and talented employees grow within your organization.
Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards is the premier awards program for internal communications. Our program recognizes the best internal communicators, teams, programs, campaigns, intranets and events that excelled in engaging and informing employees, boosting collaboration, fostering innovative and accepting workplace cultures, and so much more. This is your opportunity to showcase your incredible organization and its dedication to offering an amazing employee experience.
Work life also looks a little different than it used to. That's why we're featuring categories dedicated to showcasing the remote communications, events, campaigns and projects that have helped you stay connected with employees, even when so many are working remotely or using a hybrid model.
Categories in our Employee Communications Awards cover content and communications, employee experience, intranets, publications, remote culture and video. Our Grand Prize categories will recognize the best in remote work experience, use of technology, employee communications campaigns, employee communications teams and intranet.
Top Places to Work: Is your organization a top place to work, whether it's in-office or remote? If your company culture is something to write home about, and if your organization is true to its mission and vision, then yours is most likely a Top Place to Work and you should enter it into this program. Ragan's Top Places to Work competition will shine a spotlight on the workplaces that shine a light on their employees and that walk the talk. Share with the judges in 500 words or less what makes your company an extraordinary workplace.
Enter more than one category to increase your chances of winning—and save on multiple submissions of the same campaign or project.
Check out last year’s winners to see what award-worthy work looks like.
CATEGORIES
TOP PLACES TO WORK
Small Organization (Less than 100 Employees)
Mid-Size Organization (100–1,000 Employees)
Large Organization (More than 1,000 Employees)
REMOTE CULTURE
Virtual Employee Engagement
Virtual Employee Recognition or Reward Program
Virtual Events/Celebrations
Virtual Executive Communication
Virtual Onboarding
Virtual Team Meetings
Virtual Town Hall
Virtual Well-Being Programs
Other
CONTENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Benefits Communication
Change Communication
Community Relations
COVID-19 Communication
Crisis Response
Digital Signage Communication
Email Communication
Employer Branding Campaign
Employee-Generated Content
Executive/Leadership Communication
Podcast
Rebranding Campaign
Recruitment Campaign
Reputation Management
Return-to-Workplace Communication
Tailored Communication
Use of Social Media
Visual Storytelling
Social Justice Communication
Speechwriting
EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
Amazing Workplace Culture
Brand Ambassador Program
Burnout Busters
Corporate Social Responsibility/ESG Initiatives
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment
Employee Education/Training Program
Employee Engagement
Employee Recognition or Reward Program
Employee Resource Groups
Employee Volunteer Program
Employee Well-Being Program
Hybrid Workplace Strategy
Internal Event Strategy
Return-to-Workplace Office Redesign
Talent Management Strategy
PUBLICATIONS (ELECTRONIC AND PRINT)
Annual Report
Article Series
Blog
CSR/ESG Report
Design of Magazine or Newsletter
Internal Email Campaign
Feature Article
Interview or Profile
Magazine
Newsletter
VIDEO
Company Overview Video
DE&I Video
Humorous Video
Informational Video
Inspirational Video
Interview Video
Leadership Video
Training or Orientation Video
Recruitment Video
INTRANET COLLABORATION & INNOVATION
Employee Engagement
Employee Recognition
Internal Social Network
Launch or Relaunch
Mobile Integration
Use for Human Resources
Value to Employees
INTRANET CONTENT
Best Feature/Section
Instructional or Educational Content
Interactive Content
Intranet Video
INTRANET DESIGN
Best Intranet Design
Intranet Usability
Personalized Experience
TECH
Best Employee App
Best Digital Collaboration Tool
Best HR Tool/Service
Best Wellness Tool/Service
GRAND PRIZE
Best Overall Intranet
Best Remote Work Experience/Culture
Best Use of Technology
Employee Communication Campaign of the Year
Employee Communications Team of the Year
HOW TO ENTER
Employee Communications Entries: On the entry form, be sure to include a thorough synopsis explaining the purpose and scope of your project. We ask that the synopsis be no more than 1,000 words and include the following sub-headings (when applicable):
- Goals
- Strategy and tactics
- Execution
- Evaluation: success, results or ROI
Top Places to Work Entries: Share with the judges in 500 words or less what makes your organization a top place to work, whether it's in-office, remote or hybrid. What makes your workplace culture amazing? How does your organization shine a light on its employees? Tell us everything that makes your organization a Top Place to Work. When applicable, please include the following sub-headings:
- Goals
- Strategy and tactics
- Execution
- Evaluation: success, results or ROI
Team of the Year Entries: Tell us in 1,000 words or less about the team's accomplishments in the previous 12 months. Winners will be those who have distinguished themselves among their peers with meaningful achievements. Please include examples of creative campaigns or initiatives that have proved beneficial to your organization or clients. When applicable, please include the following sub-headings:
- Goals
- Strategy and tactics
- Execution
- Evaluation: success, results or ROI
Be sure to follow the guidelines laid out in the category descriptions, as the judges will look for those elements when they select the winners.
You will be able to upload additional documents to your submission. We encourage you to include press releases, design concepts, videos, analytics, testimonials and anything else you feel will give us a better sense of your project. Proprietary or internal information can also be attached and will not be shared with the public.
Supporting documents that can’t be uploaded to the system should be mailed to:
Brendan Gannon
Ragan Communications
10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 310
Chicago, IL 60603
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
These awards are open to in-house, agency and independent communication practitioners in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. Enter your work, the work of your organization or submit entries on behalf of your client.
Companies from around the world are welcome to enter as long as the entry is submitted in English.
Contact Brendan Gannon to find the perfect category for your campaign or project. You can call 312-960-4407 or email brendang@ragan.com.
This year’s program is open to any work executed between Sept. 1, 2020, and Sept. 17, 2021, inclusive.
ENTRY FEES
The fee for this program is $425 per entry into standard categories. Grand Prize entries are $475 per entry.
A late fee of $199 per entry will be added to all entries after 11:59 p.m. Central time, Sept. 17, 2021.
Do you have a campaign or project you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $199 for each additional category!
All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should you apply?
Our award programs help you measure the success of your work and prove the value of your contributions to your organization. You can set yourself apart in the industry as an expert, which will open doors throughout your career. As a winner, you’ll earn publicity for your brand across our websites and social media audiences, a custom write-up about your campaign and a trophy.Who can enter?
Entries may be submitted by organizations worldwide. The only requirement is that entries be submitted in English. The program is open to in-house, agency, independent communication practitioners and vendors in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors.What does it take to be a winner?
Although each award program is unique, we look for top-quality work that shows clear, bold and creative ideas that benefit your business or client. Please provide metrics or media coverage that back up your claims, and share creative collateral such as videos, visual design or websites that were a part of your project. Please look at our past award winners to see what gets recognized and rewarded. We encourage you to submit the same campaign to multiple categories, if you feel they are relevant. Doing so increases your chances of winning—and you'll receive discounted rates on additional entries.Why are some deadlines extended?
We extend deadlines based on applicant needs and upcoming promotional opportunities.When will I find out results?
We aim to announce finalists about eight weeks after the program closes. The announcement of the winners comes about four weeks after the announcement of the finalists. Each announcement will be made with a headline on our website, in our daily email newsletter and on our social media platforms. Emails notify entrants of these announcements. As deadlines are extended, so are expected announcement dates.Additional Questions
If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please call Brendan Gannon at 312-960-4407 or email brendan@ragan.com.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in sponsoring the Video, Visual & Virtual Awards program, please contact Hannah Lavelle at 312-960-4628 or email hannahl@ragan.com.
Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to trophies or certificates.