Call for Entries Deadline: Dec. 5, 2025

Celebrating Excellence in People, Culture and Technology

Ragan’s HR Awards and HR Technology Hot List honor the campaigns, teams and solutions shaping the modern workplace. Together, they celebrate the innovation, strategy and technology driving stronger cultures, better performance and a brighter future for work.

From employee engagement, learning and development and culture transformation to HR technology and analytics, this dual program recognizes the people and platforms making a measurable difference for employees and organizations alike.

By entering, you’ll showcase the work, leadership and tools that are advancing HR’s role as a business driver. Whether you’re an HR professional, team or technology provider, this is your platform to demonstrate how your work creates impact.

About the HR Awards

The HR Awards spotlight the programs, campaigns and teams that are strengthening workplace culture and driving organizational success.

Categories include Employee Experience, DEI, Wellness, Learning & Development, Change Management, Strategic HR, Talent Retention and more.

About the HR Technology Hot List

The HR Technology Hot List showcases the solutions transforming how organizations attract, engage and empower their workforce.

With 20 categories spanning talent, learning, analytics, AI and workforce transformation, the Hot List celebrates platforms that deliver measurable results, usability and innovation.

Whether your achievements center on engagement, innovation or transformation, Ragan’s HR Awards and HR Technology Hot List are your stage. Submit your entries today.

CATEGORIES

CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES

 Change Management & Culture Transformation

Honoring HR initiatives that guide organizations through change with empathy, clarity and purpose. These programs reshape culture, strengthen alignment and empower employees to thrive amid transformation.

 Community Impact

Recognizing HR-led efforts that extend organizational values beyond the workplace. These initiatives strengthen community partnerships, drive social good and inspire a culture of purpose and contribution.

 DEI Initiatives

Celebrating programs that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in measurable and meaningful ways. These efforts build workplaces where all employees feel seen, valued and supported.

 Distributed Workforce Management

Spotlighting strategies that enable collaboration, engagement and connection across hybrid and remote teams. These initiatives redefine flexibility, proving that culture and productivity can flourish anywhere.

 Employee Benefits

Honoring innovative benefits programs that balance care, equity and performance. These offerings reflect a deep understanding of employee needs while reinforcing organizational values and retention.

 Employee Engagement

Recognizing initiatives that deepen trust, connection and motivation throughout the employee experience. These programs turn engagement into a catalyst for culture, innovation and measurable business success.

 Employee Experience

Celebrating holistic approaches that elevate every stage of the employee journey, from recruitment to growth and retention. These initiatives integrate feedback, personalization and purpose to create meaningful workplace experiences.

 Employee Performance Management

Spotlighting modern approaches to feedback, goal-setting and performance development. These initiatives align people and strategy, turning performance management into a driver of growth and accountability.

 ESG Initiatives

Honoring HR’s role in advancing environmental, social and governance commitments. These programs connect organizational values with responsible action, creating workplaces that lead with integrity and impact.

 HR & Communications Collaboration

Recognizing cross-functional partnerships that unify messaging, strengthen culture and foster transparency. These collaborations demonstrate how aligned HR and communications teams drive engagement and trust.

 Learning & Development

Celebrating initiatives that nurture continuous learning, upskilling and professional growth. These programs empower employees to evolve and help organizations stay agile in a changing world.

 Mental Health Initiatives

Honoring programs that elevate mental health as a cornerstone of employee well-being. These initiatives promote openness, resilience and lasting cultural change through care and innovation.

 Strategic HR

Spotlighting HR teams that align people strategy with business outcomes. These initiatives exemplify the strategic power of HR in driving performance, culture and organizational success.

 Talent Retention & Recruitment

Recognizing programs that attract, develop and retain top talent in a competitive landscape. These initiatives combine innovation, empathy and insight to strengthen the employee lifecycle from start to stay.

 Total Rewards Program

Celebrating comprehensive compensation and recognition strategies that motivate and sustain high-performing teams. These programs balance financial, emotional and professional rewards to reinforce value and engagement.

 Workplace Wellness Programs

Honoring holistic initiatives that support physical, mental and financial well-being. These programs redefine wellness as a strategic advantage and foundation for long-term organizational success.

TOP HR WORKPLACES

 Large Organization (1,000+ Employees)

Recognizing enterprise-scale HR excellence that drives innovation, inclusivity and measurable impact across vast, complex workforces. These organizations demonstrate how strong HR strategy can inspire connection and performance at scale.

 Mid-Size Organization (100–999 Employees)

Celebrating mid-sized organizations that deliver big impact through agile, values-driven HR practices. These workplaces prove that innovation, empathy and engagement can flourish at any size.

 Small Organization (Less than 100 Employees)

Honoring small organizations that achieve outsized success through creativity, connection and commitment to their people. These workplaces showcase the power of close-knit cultures and purpose-led HR leadership.

PEOPLE & TEAMS

 Hall of Fame

Recognizing trailblazers whose long-standing leadership has redefined the HR profession. These honorees have made enduring contributions to the industry and continue to inspire the next generation of people leaders.

 CEO of the Year

Honoring visionary CEOs who champion HR excellence and empower people-first business strategies. These leaders demonstrate how human-centered decision-making drives culture, performance and organizational success.

 HR Professional of the Year

Spotlighting individual HR professionals who exemplify innovation, integrity and strategic impact. These honorees represent the best of modern HR leadership through measurable contributions to culture and growth.

 HR Leaders to Watch (Age 30 or Under)

Celebrating rising HR stars whose passion and creativity are shaping the future of the profession. These emerging leaders bring bold ideas and fresh perspectives to workplace transformation.

 HR Team of the Year

Honoring teams that redefine collaboration and excellence in human resources. These groups demonstrate unity, strategy and innovation in driving organizational success and employee engagement.

HR TECHNOLOGY HOT LIST

Game-changing solutions for thriving workplaces

Ragan’s HR Technology Hot List will shine the spotlight on platforms and solutions redefining the future of work. From employee experience platforms to AI-powered recruiting tools, the Hot List reflects the leaders helping organizations attract, engage and empower their workforce in bold and productive ways.

The HR Technology Hot List honors the companies that are pushing boundaries and delivering real results for employers and employees alike.

With 20 distinct categories spanning talent, learning, analytics and workforce transformation, the HR Technology Awards provide a stage for vendors to showcase how their solutions are changing the world of work.

 Best Career Development Technology

Awards platforms that support internal talent growth, mobility and career pathing.

 Best Employee Experience Platform

Recognizes platforms that elevate the end-to-end employee journey through personalization and engagement.

 Best Enterprise HR Technology Implementation

Honors platforms that demonstrate exceptional results in large-scale rollouts.

 Best Global/Multinational HR Tech Solution

Recognizes platforms that address the complexities of a global workforce.

 Best HR Data & Security Solution

Celebrates platforms that protect employee data while ensuring compliance and trust.

 Best HR Tech for Workforce Transformation

Celebrates solutions that support digital transformation, reskilling, or workforce agility.

 Best Hybrid & Remote Work Technology

Recognizes solutions that enable collaboration, connection, and productivity in distributed teams.

 Best Learning & Development Solution

Spotlights technologies that foster continuous learning, upskilling, and employee growth.

 Best New HR Technology

Recognizes the most innovative new HR technology that sets a new industry standard.

 Best Onboarding & Employee Engagement Technology

Honors tools that improve the first-day-to-first-year experience and drive engagement.

 Best Pay, Rewards & Recognition Technology

Celebrates solutions that modernize compensation, recognition, and employee rewards.

 Best People Analytics & Insights Platform

Celebrates technology that enables organizations to harness data for workforce planning and insights.

 Best Performance Management Solution

Honors platforms that modernize goal-setting, feedback, and performance reviews.

 Best SMB HR Solution

Spotlights HR technologies that deliver outsized value for small and mid-sized businesses.

 Best Tech for Empowering Employee Voice

Recognizes platforms that capture, amplify, and act on employee feedback and ideas.

 Best Talent Acquisition & Recruiting Technology

Awards innovative tools that improve candidate sourcing, recruiting, or hiring efficiency.

 Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in HR

Honors a solution that leverages AI to improve HR processes, decision-making or employee experience.

 Best Well-Being & Mental Health Technology

Awards technology that promotes employee health, wellness, and resilience.

 Best Workplace Equity & Belonging Technology

Recognizes tools that advance fairness, equity, accessibility and inclusion in the workplace.

 Most Impactful HR Technology for Business Outcomes

Recognizes a solution that measurably drives business growth, productivity, or ROI.

HOW TO ENTER

  • Choose the categories that best fit your work.
  • Complete the online entry form.
  • Add your entry or entries to your cart and complete the submission process.
  • That’s it. 

HR Awards Criteria

Entrants should submit a concise application (900 word maximum), addressing the following areas (if applicable):

  • Goals
  • Strategy and tactics
  • Execution
  • Evaluation: success, results or ROI

HR Technology Hot List Criteria

Entrants should submit a concise application (1,100 word maximum), covering the following areas:

  • Product Overview
  • Problem & Solution
  • Innovation & Differentiation
  • Impact & Results
  • Scalability & Usability

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.

ENTER

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The HR Awards and HR Technology Hot List are open to HR professionals, teams, organizations, agencies, vendors and technology providers in the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. You may enter your own work, your organization’s work or submit on behalf of a client or partner.

Companies and individuals from around the world are welcome to participate, provided entries are submitted in English.

For the HR Awards, eligible submissions include HR programs, campaigns and initiatives implemented within the past 12 months. For the HR Technology Hot List, entries must highlight technology solutions currently available in market or with proven client impact during the eligibility period.

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 Dec. 1, 2024, and Dec. 12, 2025, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The fee for this program is $550 per entry.

A late fee of $325 per entry will be added to all entries received after 11:59 p.m. Central time, Dec. 5, 2025.

Do you have a campaign, project, individual or team 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

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?
Ragan’s HR Awards and HR Technology Hot List recognize the teams, programs and solutions shaping the future of work. Winners receive prominent recognition across Ragan’s platforms, a custom profile highlighting their achievement, and a trophy that validates strategy, innovation and measurable results. These honors spotlight excellence in both HR leadership and technology, offering lasting visibility within the industry.
WHO CAN ENTER THESE AWARDS?
Entries are open to organizations, vendors and individuals worldwide. The HR Awards welcome in-house HR teams, departments and leaders across corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. The HR Technology Hot List invites technology providers, software companies and partners serving the HR community. All entries must be submitted in English.
CAN I ENTER TWO OR MORE CATEGORIES?
Yes! You’re encouraged to enter multiple categories across both programs. Each entry is judged separately, and discounted pricing applies to your second entry and beyond, giving you more opportunities to earn recognition.
WHAT DO THE JUDGES LOOK FOR IN ENTRIES?
Judges seek originality, innovation and measurable outcomes that demonstrate excellence. For HR Awards submissions, strong entries clearly define objectives, showcase creative approaches and include data or materials that prove cultural and organizational impact. For HR Technology Hot List entries, judges look for usability, innovation and results that show how your product or platform improves HR performance or the employee experience.
WHY ARE SOME DEADLINES EXTENDED?
Deadlines may be extended to accommodate applicant needs and align with promotional opportunities across Ragan’s award programs.
WHEN WILL I FIND OUT RESULTS?
All entrants will be notified of their status approximately three months after the final entry deadline.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please email Brendan Gannon at [email protected].

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Morgan Einspanier at [email protected]. 

 

Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to trophies or certificates.