Call for Entries Deadline:
Oct. 9, 2026

Honoring employee communications work that builds clarity, trust and connection

Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards honor outstanding internal communications, employee engagement, employee experience and workplace culture work created by in-house teams, agencies, independent practitioners and vendors. Behind every informed employee, trusted leader and connected workplace is a communicator who made the message clear, timely and meaningful. This program celebrates the campaigns, channels, events, technology, videos, teams and professionals that made it happen.

Employee communicators do far more than share updates. They help people understand business priorities, navigate change, hear directly from leaders, find reliable information and feel connected to the organization’s purpose. Categories span leadership and business strategy communication, employee listening and feedback, frontline and deskless communication, workplace culture, intranets, newsletters, internal events, video, measurement, AI adoption and more. Whether your work gave employees a stronger voice, reached teams across roles and locations, turned a complex decision into clear action or proved the value of communication, there is a place for it in this program.

Enter your work, nominate a colleague or team, or submit work completed on behalf of a client. Finalists will be announced in advance of a live awards event in spring 2027, where category winners will be revealed and celebrated. Winners will also be featured in editorial coverage across Ragan’s websites, newsletters and social channels.

A Ragan award does more than recognize a successful campaign or program. It gives your team credible third-party validation, helps demonstrate the value of employee communications to leadership and creates a well-earned opportunity to celebrate work that often happens outside the public eye. Submit your strongest work and show what thoughtful employee communication made possible for your people and organization.

CATEGORIES

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

 Best Overall Intranet

Outstanding intranets help employees find answers, connect with colleagues and understand what is happening across the organization. You might share the strategy, content plan, governance, design, adoption, employee feedback and results that show how the intranet improved communication, collaboration and culture.

 Best In-Office Work Experience/Culture

Celebrate an in-office experience that makes coming together useful, engaging and connected. Submissions may highlight workplace programs, rituals, spaces, events, manager practices or communication efforts that helped employees collaborate and feel supported.

 Best Remote Work Experience/Culture

Remote work requires more than tools; it requires clear communication, trust and intentional connection. Show how your organization kept remote employees informed, included and connected through programming, leader communication, recognition, channels or culture-building efforts.

 Employee Communications Campaign of the Year

Honor a standout campaign that reached employees with a clear message, strong strategy and measurable impact. Consider sharing the audience insight, creative approach, channel mix, timeline, execution and results that made the campaign successful.

 Employee Communications Professional of the Year

Honor an employee communications professional whose leadership, judgment and creativity made a measurable difference. Nominations may highlight strategy, message development, cross-functional partnership, team leadership and work that improved employee understanding, trust or engagement.

 Employee Communications Team of the Year

Great employee communication often takes a team that can plan, adapt and deliver under pressure. Share the team's role, key initiatives, challenges, collaboration, creative choices and results that show its value to the organization.

COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNS/INITIATIVES

 AI Adoption, Governance & Workforce Readiness Communication

AI is changing how people work, and employees need clear guidance they can trust. Submissions may cover AI policy communication, training rollouts, manager guidance, employee Q&As, leader messaging, change communication or campaigns that helped employees understand and responsibly use AI.

 AI-Powered Internal Communications

Show how AI helped improve the way internal communication was planned, produced, targeted, measured or managed. You might include the problem AI helped solve, how it was used responsibly, workflow changes, employee or team benefits and outcomes.

 Alignment with External Communications

Employees need to hear company news before it reaches customers, media or the public. Share how internal and external communications teams aligned messages, timing and channels so employees understood the same story being told outside the organization.

 Annual Report

A strong annual report can do more than summarize results; it can tell a clear story about progress, priorities and people. Submissions may show how the report made organizational information useful, human and relevant for employees or other key audiences.

 Article Series

Some internal stories need room to build over time. Share a multi-part article series that used reporting, structure, tone and distribution to keep employees interested and informed across several installments.

 Benefits Communication

Benefits information is easier to act on when it is clear, timely and relevant. Submissions may feature open enrollment campaigns, benefits education, targeted messages, videos, infographics, tools or other communications that helped employees make informed choices.

 Blog

Internal blogs can give employees a trusted place for news, perspective and culture stories. You might share the blog's purpose, editorial plan, content examples, audience response and metrics that show its value.

 Business Strategy Communication

Employees do better work when they understand where the organization is headed and why. Show how communication helped explain business priorities, market context, company goals or major decisions in a way that connected to employees' day-to-day work.

 Change Communication

Change communication works best when it brings clarity, calm and context. Submissions may describe the change, audience needs, message strategy, timing, leader involvement, feedback loops and results.

 Community Relations

Community relations communication can help employees understand and take part in the organization's role outside its walls. Share how you communicated partnerships, giving, volunteering or local impact, along with employee response and outcomes.

 Crisis Response

During a crisis or disruption, employees need timely, credible and practical information. Show the situation, response strategy, messaging, channels, leadership role, lessons learned and results.

 Cross-Departmental Collaboration

Strong internal communication often depends on teams working across silos. Share how departments partnered to solve a problem, align on a message or support a shared business goal.

 Email Communication

Internal email still matters when it is relevant, well-timed and easy to act on. Submissions may include goals, audience strategy, message approach, design, testing, segmentation, performance data and lessons learned.

 Employee Advocacy Program

Employee advocacy programs help people share approved company stories and messages with confidence. You might include training, tools, content examples, participation data, support materials and results.

 Employee E-Letters

Digital letters and e-letters can bring a personal, editorial voice to internal updates. Share the content strategy, cadence, audience, design, engagement metrics and employee feedback.

 Employee Lifecycle Communications

Key moments in the employee journey deserve clear and consistent communication. Submissions may cover recruiting, onboarding, development, recognition, retention, offboarding or another lifecycle stage where communication improved the employee experience.

 Employee Listening, Feedback & Insights

Listening only matters when feedback leads to understanding and action. Submissions may feature pulse surveys, listening sessions, sentiment analysis, employee forums, idea channels, feedback loops or "you said, we did" communication.

 Employee Retention

Retention-focused communication helps employees understand their place, value and future within the organization. You might share the challenge addressed, messages, channels, culture or career-related content, employee response and measurable results.

 Employee Voice, Advocacy & Participation

Employees often tell the most credible stories about an organization. Share programs that invited employees to shape, create or share content, such as ambassador programs, employee-generated content, peer storytelling, employee influencer work or advocacy campaigns.

 Employer Branding

Employer brand communication helps employees and candidates understand what it feels like to work at an organization. Submissions may show the strategy, messaging, employee stories, creative assets, internal rollout, external reach and results.

 Executive/Leadership Communication

Leadership communication builds trust when leaders are visible, clear and willing to listen. You might include leader messages, town halls, Q&As, video updates, written communications, listening efforts or campaigns that helped employees understand priorities.

 Feature Article

One strong feature can help employees see a person, issue or moment in a new way. Share the article, headline, reporting approach, audience, distribution and feedback or results.

 Frontline, Deskless or Hard-to-Reach Employee Communications

Frontline, deskless, field-based and shift-based employees need communication designed around how they work. Submissions may cover mobile communication, digital signage, SMS, manager cascades, huddles, multilingual communication, employee apps, printed materials or other channel mixes.

 HR Communication

HR information becomes more useful when employees can understand it quickly and know what to do next. Submissions may cover policy updates, benefits, people programs, compliance messages, HR resources or employee support campaigns.

 Inclusion, Belonging & Culture Communication

Inclusion, belonging and culture communication can help employees feel seen, respected and connected to the organization. Share the goals, messages, employee involvement, leadership role, channels, feedback and outcomes behind the work.

 Innovation in Internal Communications

Fresh internal communication ideas can solve old problems in smarter ways. Show the new tactic, channel, process or approach you introduced, why it was needed, how employees responded and what changed because of it.

 Internal Branding Campaign

Internal branding helps employees understand the organization's identity, values and voice from the inside out. Submissions may show the campaign strategy, messages, creative materials, employee touchpoints, rollout and results.

 Internal Email

A single internal email or email series can still cut through when the message is clear and relevant. You might share the audience, objective, writing approach, design, call to action, open/click data and lessons learned.

 Magazine

Internal magazines can combine editorial judgment, design and storytelling into a resource employees want to read. Share the content strategy, audience, design, distribution, examples and performance results.

 Manager and People Leader Communication

Managers and people leaders are often the most important communication link for employees. Submissions may include toolkits, talking points, cascade plans, leader briefs, huddle guides, training, feedback loops or other support that helped managers communicate clearly.

 Measurement and Data

Measurement helps communicators make better decisions and prove what worked. Share how data, dashboards, surveys, analytics, testing or reporting shaped strategy, improved content or showed communication impact.

 Mission and Values Communication

Mission and values communication is strongest when employees can connect it to daily choices and business goals. Submissions may show messages, stories, campaigns, leader involvement, employee participation and evidence that the work made values more visible.

 Newsletter

A strong newsletter gives employees a reliable, useful source of information they want to open. Share the editorial strategy, content mix, design, cadence, segmentation, performance metrics and employee feedback.

 Podcast

Internal podcasts can bring voice, personality and depth to employee communication. You might share the concept, audience, format, guest strategy, distribution, listening data and how the podcast supported communication goals.

 Rebranding

Rebrands require employees to understand not just what changed, but why it matters. Submissions may cover rollout strategy, internal messaging, creative assets, leader communication, employee education, feedback and results.

 Recruitment

Recruitment communication can help the right candidates understand the organization, culture and opportunity. Share the audience, message strategy, channels, employee stories, creative assets and results.

 Social Media

Social media can support internal communication when it helps employees connect, participate or share culture. Submissions may include platform strategy, content examples, employee participation, moderation approach and performance results.

 Storytelling

Strong internal storytelling helps employees understand people, priorities and purpose through memorable narratives. Share the story strategy, audience, format, reporting approach, distribution plan, employee response and impact.

 Sustainability Communication/Initiatives

Sustainability communication can help employees understand environmental or social commitments and how they can take part. You might include campaign materials, employee education, volunteer opportunities, behavior-change efforts, stories and results.

 Visual Storytelling

Visual storytelling can make internal messages clearer, faster to understand and more memorable. Submissions may feature photography, infographics, GIFs, illustrations, data visuals or other creative assets that helped employees connect with the message.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE CAMPAIGNS/INITIATIVES

 Amazing Workplace Culture

Great workplace culture is visible in what employees experience, not just what the organization says. Share the programs, rituals, communication, stories, participation and results that show what makes the culture distinct.

 Brand Ambassador Program

Brand ambassador programs prepare employees to represent the organization with pride and clarity. Submissions may include ambassador selection, training, tools, content examples, participation data and results.

 DE&I Commitment

Clear communication can help organizations explain inclusion commitments, progress and expectations with care. You might share the goals, messaging, employee involvement, leadership role, feedback and outcomes.

 Employee Learning & Development

Learning and development communication helps employees find, understand and act on growth opportunities. Submissions may cover program promotion, learning journeys, manager support, channels, participation and outcomes.

 Employee Engagement

Employee engagement communication invites people to pay attention, participate and feel connected to the organization. Share the challenge, strategy, channels, creative approach, employee response and measurable results.

 Employee Recognition or Reward Program

Recognition communication helps employees feel seen and appreciated in specific, meaningful ways. You might include the program strategy, nomination process, message approach, examples of recognition, participation and results.

 Employee Resource Groups

Employee resource groups can build community, share perspectives and strengthen culture when communication helps people participate. Submissions may include ERG strategy, communications, programming, member stories, participation and impact.

 Employee Volunteer Program

Volunteer communication can move employees from awareness to participation. Share the program strategy, messages, employee stories, participation data, community impact and results.

 Employee Well-Being Program

Well-being communication helps employees find support and understand available resources. Submissions may cover mental health, physical health, financial wellness, caregiving support, prevention, employee education or other programs tied to employee well-being.

 Internal Event Strategy

Internal events can inform, connect and energize employees when the experience is planned with purpose. You might include town halls, leadership meetings, recognition events, culture programs, learning events or hybrid gatherings, along with strategy and results.

 Onboarding Strategy

Onboarding communication shapes how new employees understand the organization from day one. Submissions may show the journey, messages, channels, resources, manager touchpoints, employee feedback and results.

 Total Rewards Program

Total rewards communication helps employees understand the full value of compensation, benefits, recognition, perks and support. Share the strategy, messages, tools, employee response and results.

INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

 AI – Use of

The best AI use cases solve a real communication, engagement or employee experience need. Submissions may explain the use case, workflow, responsible implementation, employee or team benefit, outcomes and lessons learned.

 Employee App

Employee apps can keep people informed and connected wherever they work. You might share the need the app addressed, content strategy, user experience, adoption data, screenshots, employee feedback and results.

 HR Tool/Service

HR tools and services can improve communication when they make information easier to access, understand or act on. Submissions may show the tool or service, the problem it solved, how employees used it and what results followed.

 Intranet

A strong intranet supports communication, collaboration and information sharing across the organization. Share the design, content strategy, functionality, governance, adoption and employee impact.

REMOTE/HYBRID CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES

 Virtual Employee Engagement

Virtual engagement programs help remote or distributed employees stay connected and involved. Submissions may show the strategy, channels, content, participation, feedback and results.

 Virtual Events/Celebrations

Virtual events and celebrations can create shared moments even when employees are not in the same room. Share the event strategy, experience design, content, participation and outcomes.

 Virtual Executive Communication

Virtual leadership communication can make executives more accessible and timely. You might include video updates, virtual Q&As, livestreams, town halls or other formats that supported clarity, dialogue and trust.

 Virtual Onboarding

Virtual onboarding helps new hires feel prepared and connected before they meet colleagues in person. Submissions may include the onboarding journey, messages, tools, resources, manager touchpoints, employee feedback and results.

 Virtual Town Hall

Virtual town halls give employees access to leaders, updates and answers in real time or on demand. Share the strategy, agenda, production approach, employee questions, feedback and results.

 Virtual Well-Being Programs

Virtual well-being programs can bring support to employees wherever they work. Submissions may cover mental, physical, financial or social well-being resources, communication strategy, participation and outcomes.

 Other

Use this category for remote or hybrid employee communication work that does not fit another listed category. Helpful details may include the audience, need, strategy, execution, creative materials and results.

VIDEO CAMPAIGNS/INITIATIVES

 Company Overview Video

Company overview videos can help employees understand the organization's story, purpose, culture, values or work. Share the audience, creative approach, distribution plan, employee response and results.

 Humorous Video

Humor can make internal messages more memorable when it fits the audience and goal. Submissions may show why humor was the right approach, how the video supported communication goals and how employees responded.

 Informational Video

Informational videos can make complex or important topics clearer and easier to act on. You might include the topic, audience need, creative approach, distribution strategy and results.

 Inspirational Video

Inspirational videos can build pride, motivation and connection to a larger purpose. Share the message, story approach, audience, distribution and impact.

 Interview Video

Interview videos use real voices to share stories, perspectives or important messages. Submissions may show the interview strategy, participants, audience, distribution and results.

 Leadership Video

Leadership videos help executives speak to employees with clarity and presence. Share the leadership message, production approach, distribution, employee response and results.

 Recruitment Video

Recruitment videos can show candidates what it feels like to work at an organization. You might include the employer brand strategy, audience, employee stories, creative approach, distribution and results.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards, review the categories, choose the best fit for your work, complete the online entry form, upload any supporting materials and submit payment by the published deadline.

    1. Choose your category or categories. Select the categories that best match your employee communications campaign, channel, event, program, team or individual achievement.
    2. Complete the online entry form. You may enter your own work, nominate a colleague or team, or submit work on behalf of your organization, agency or client.
    3. Upload supporting materials. Add the files, links or examples that will help judges understand and assess the work.
    4. Review and submit your entry. Add the entry or entries to your cart, confirm that the information is accurate and complete payment by the deadline.

The same work may be submitted in more than one relevant category. Each category is judged separately, so tailor the entry to explain why the work is a strong fit for each category selected.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR ENTRY

Provide a synopsis of 350 to 900 words explaining the purpose, scope and results of your work. When applicable, organize the synopsis using these headings:

Goals

What communication challenge, employee need or organizational objective did the work address?

Strategy and Tactics

Who was the intended audience, and what insights, messages, channels or approaches shaped the plan?

Execution

How was the work created, introduced and managed? You may include important timing, partnerships, creative decisions or adjustments made along the way.

Evaluation: Success, Results or ROI

What changed because of the work? Relevant evidence may include employee feedback, participation, reach, engagement, adoption, behavior change, efficiency or business results.

Strong entries give judges enough context to understand what you did, why you chose that approach and what the work made possible. Follow any additional guidance in the category description, and focus on the details most relevant to your submission.

Supporting materials may include screenshots, emails, intranet pages, videos, publications, event materials, design work, analytics, dashboards, employee feedback or testimonials. You do not need to provide every type of material listed. Include the items that best support your entry and results.

ENTER

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 [email protected].

This year’s program is open to any work executed between Oct. 1, 2025, and Oct. 16, 2026, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The fee for this program is $550 per entry into standard categories, and $600 per entry into our Awards of Distinction category.

A late fee of $325 per entry will be added to all entries received after 11:59 p.m. Central time, October 9, 2026.

Do you have a campaign or project you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $250 for each additional category!

All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.

W-9 Form / Tax ID Number Request

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards?
Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards honor outstanding work in employee communications, internal communications, employee engagement, employee experience and workplace culture. The program recognizes campaigns, communication channels, events, technology, videos, teams and professionals that helped employees understand business priorities, navigate change, connect with leaders and feel more connected to their organizations.
Why should I enter Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards?
Entering gives your work credible third-party recognition from Ragan and a clear way to demonstrate its value. Finalist or winner recognition can help you celebrate your team, show leadership what employee communications made possible, support future budget and resource conversations, strengthen your employer brand and share a success story with colleagues, clients and prospective talent.
Does the program include awards for intranets, executive communications, employee engagement and workplace culture?
Yes. The categories include Best Overall Intranet, Intranet, Executive/Leadership Communication, Leadership Video, Employee Engagement, Amazing Workplace Culture, Best In-Office Work Experience/Culture and Best Remote Work Experience/Culture. Additional categories recognize employee experience, employee listening and feedback, frontline and deskless communication, manager communication, internal events, newsletters, AI adoption, measurement and more.
What work is eligible for the Employee Communications Awards?
Work executed between October 2025 and October 2026, inclusive, is eligible for the 2026 program. For an ongoing campaign, channel or program, focus the entry on the strategy, work and results produced during the eligibility period. Entries should be submitted in English.
How do I choose the right category for my entry?
Start with the primary purpose of the work and the audience need it addressed. Then review the category descriptions for the closest match. A leadership video, for example, might fit Leadership Video, Executive/Leadership Communication or a broader campaign category depending on its goals and scope. The same work may be entered in more than one relevant category, and the Ragan Awards team can help you identify the strongest options.
Can I enter the same work in more than one category?
Yes. A campaign, project or program may be entered in multiple relevant categories. Each category is judged separately, so tailor each submission to explain why the work fits that specific category.
How do I submit an entry?
Choose the category or categories that best fit your work, complete the online entry form, add your written synopsis and upload any supporting materials. Review the entry for accuracy, add it to your cart and complete payment by the published deadline. Your submission is not complete until the entry form and payment have been received.
What should my Employee Communications Awards entry include?
Please provide a synopsis of 350 to 900 words that gives judges the context needed to understand the work. When relevant, organize the synopsis under these headings: Goals Strategy and tactics Execution Evaluation: success, results or ROI Explain the communication challenge, intended audience, decisions behind the work and what happened as a result. Follow any additional guidance included in the category description.
Can I upload supporting materials?
Yes. Supporting materials may include emails, screenshots, intranet pages, videos, publications, design work, event materials, dashboards, analytics, employee feedback, testimonials or other assets that help judges understand the entry.
What do the judges look for in an Employee Communications Awards entry?
Judges consider the entry’s goals, audience insight, strategy, execution, creativity, clarity and results. Strong entries connect communication decisions to meaningful outcomes and provide evidence appropriate to the work. That evidence may include reach, opens, clicks, participation, adoption, employee feedback, sentiment, behavior change, efficiency, retention or broader business results. Not every entry needs every type of metric.
How much does it cost to enter?
The fee is $550 for each standard category and $600 for each Awards of Distinction category. After paying the original entry fee, the same work may be submitted in additional categories for $250 per category. A late fee of $325 will apply after the standard deadline. All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.
What is the deadline to enter Ragan’s 2026 Employee Communications Awards?
The standard entry deadline is October 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. Entries submitted after that time will be accepted through the late deadline of October 16, 2026, with an additional late fee. Entrants should plan to submit by the standard deadline. Any change to the published schedule will be posted on the awards page and communicated through Ragan’s channels.
When will finalists and winners be announced, and what recognition will they receive?
Finalists will be announced in December 2026, before the live awards event in spring 2027. Winners will be revealed at the event and announced across Ragan’s websites, newsletters and social channels. Category winners will receive a trophy, a digital winner badge, editorial and social media coverage, a press release template and recognition during the live celebration. Finalists will also receive recognition from Ragan before and during the event.

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 [email protected].

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Hannah Lavelle at 312-960-4628 or email [email protected].