Managing succession has come more into focus than ever before. Judges are on the lookout for the future-focused practice of identifying the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform certain functions and then developing and executing a plan to prepare multiple individuals to potentially perform those functions.

This category celebrates organisations that advocate for a collaborative, positive and open approach to women empowerment and leadership. Entries that highlight how the organisation supports and nurtures a growing pool of talented female professionals, while pushing to become an equal opportunity employer in all aspects of rewards, performance and development will take home this award.

This award celebrates creativity and innovation in leadership development. Judges will look for programmes that leverage new technologies, learning methodologies, or experiential approaches to cultivate leadership skills in unique and impactful ways. Winning entries will showcase how these innovative strategies effectively prepare leaders to navigate complex business environments and drive organisational success.

Recent times have seen some of the most challenging socio-economic times and brought with them a real test of leadership. This category is a remarkable opportunity to recognise a leader who has demonstrated leadership at any level, from the frontline to C-suite, and has stepped up to help individuals and teams navigate personal and business challenges. Inspirational leaders who showcase how they leverage on their ambition and vision to spark confidence in others, motivate, engage and drive high performance will win.

*Prerequisite: In order to be eligible for this award, the company of the respective candidate must have entered at least 2 other categories at the Employee Experience Awards 2025. This is to support their claims to the judges with examples of work the candidate had been involved in leading or overseeing.

This award recognises the career development opportunities that the organisation provides for its employees such as coaching, mentoring, upskilling, lateral moves, reverse mentoring and more. Entries that showcase strong business alignment, lifelong commitment to employees’ professional development, and overall mastery in planning for future skillsets will win.

This award celebrates organisations that value professional and lifelong continuing education as an essential foundation of capability development through benchmarked standards of excellence. Judges are on the lookout for in-house certification programmes which are tailored to suit the needs of employees and the business, and are built with a view to progressively enhance the competencies of the workforce.

An in-house learning academy is on the wish list of a majority of L&D professionals who are able to devote the time, investment and resources to pooling together expertise internally. However, an academy today is no longer just a physical learning space, but rather a library of content that organisations provide their employees. Winners in this category must demonstrate their expertise in building a sound infrastructure that enables functional, technical and business learning.

Leading the future of work transformation, L&D programmes form a key element of robust talent development and business progression. Workplace learning empowers employees to hone new skills and grow professionally, while on the business front, it helps to engage the workforce and increase productivity. HR teams that integrate blended learning and unlock talent capabilities through learning tech and tools to improve bottom line business productivity will emerge victorious.

This category celebrates organisations that have fostered a culture of continuous learning and growth. Judges will look for initiatives that promote a growth mindset, encourage knowledge sharing, celebrate learning achievements, and embed learning into everyday work practices. Winning entries will showcase how these efforts create an environment where employees are motivated to develop their skills and contribute to the organisation’s long-term success.

This category honours organisations that supported their employees with training in skills that help them most successfully interact with others. This can include, but is not limited to, adaptability, communication, customer service, decision making and problem-solving, listening, negotiation, networking, organisational skills, public speaking, teamwork and time-management. Judges will be looking at how these programmes were successfully implemented to yield positive results.

Companies that champion their employees’ voices and nurture a culture of advocacy recognise the advantages of narratives shaped by their workforce. This category applauds organisations that have excelled in empowering employees to serve as effective advocates, both within and beyond the organisation’s bounds. Judges will scrutinise initiatives that magnify employee perspectives, elevate engagement levels, and contribute positively to the standing of the organisation.

Outstanding companies comprehend that a profoundly engaged workforce is fundamental to their accomplishments. This category lauds organisations that have conceived and executed remarkable initiatives to cultivate deep-seated employee engagement. Judges will seek out evidence of strategic and imaginative endeavours that have fortified the emotional link connecting employees and the organisation, yielding heightened productivity, contentment, and staff retention.

In this era of transparent communication, companies that accord priority to and take action based on employee feedback hold a distinct edge. This category acknowledges enterprises that have crafted exemplary strategies to actively solicit and attentively address employee insights. Judges will be on the lookout for holistic approaches that cultivate an atmosphere wherein employee feedback is not only cherished but is also translated into meaningful actions, fostering ongoing enhancements.

High performing companies that measure employee health as a key part of their overall risk management strategy generate a healthier workforce, organisational culture and financial bottom line. Since wellness and employee engagement go hand-in-hand, judges are on the lookout for an integrated plan of action that boosts the holistic wellness of the workforce, through mental, emotional, financial and physical lenses.

This category celebrates companies that have successfully created a strong brand story that resonates with employees and positions the organisation at the top of candidates’ employer wish lists. HR teams that leverage on innovative storytelling techniques, inspirational employer branding champions, and a partnership with internal stakeholders, among many others to engage potential and current employees will emerge as the top.

With the shift in generational demographics, on top of the rapid advancements in technology, HR is often left trying to balance legacy organisational processes with the demands posed by a new generation of employees. Entries that showcase how HR has taken the lead to transform the business through digitisation and digitalisation, whilst improving the overall employee experience will take home the award.

This award recognises initiatives that have gone beyond a simple mix of on-site and remote hours. Judges will be looking for examples of hybrid work model roll-outs that gave employees more flexibility to get work done when, how and where proved to be most conducive to them, while improving productivity and favourability scores simultaneously.

Balancing professional obligations with the roles of parenting and caregiving presents intricate challenges. This category applauds organisations that have showcased exceptional dedication to supporting their employees in these pivotal responsibilities. Judges are interested in initiatives that furnish comprehensive aid, adaptable arrangements, and a nurturing environment for parents and caregivers, thereby contributing to their well-being and professional achievements.

Effective employee recognition programmes help to attract and retain top talent, and ensure that employees feel valued, appreciated, and motivated to achieve company goals. HR teams that integrate relevant and innovative rewards to drive recognition, and incentivise the behaviours required to enhance the organisational culture will win.

It’s key that employees are able to strike a balance between work and personal life, especially in times when technology and remote working have blurred the line between work and home. Organisations that provide workplace flexibility and other holistic benefits/programmes to help employees cope with the demands of home and career while increasing productivity and reducing turnover should enter.

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, successful organisations are those that continuously innovate not only their products and services but also their approach to workforce management. This category recognises and applauds organisations that have demonstrated outstanding innovation in how they attract, develop, and retain their talent.

We’re looking for initiatives that have broken new ground in HR practices, recruitment strategies, employee development, and workforce well-being. These innovations may span areas such as AI-driven recruitment processes, revolutionary talent retention strategies, creative workplace flexibility arrangements, or pioneering approaches to upskilling and reskilling.

Winning this award means showcasing how your organisation has disrupted the status quo to create a more engaged, adaptable, and resilient workforce. Share with us how your innovative workforce strategies have contributed to organisational success and enhanced the overall employee experience.

Judges will be evaluating how these innovations have driven tangible results, improved productivity, fostered a culture of continuous learning, and positioned your organisation as a trailblazer in the realm of workforce management.

Rewards the best initiative to improve campus recruiting. Judges will be looking for examples of touchpoints used and a solid strategy including – but not limited to – sourcing, engaging, selecting and hiring young talent. Both entry-level positions and internships qualify in this category.

Does your organisation consistently deliver a positive, respectful and professional experience at all touchpoints with candidates – be it from application to interviewing and from hiring to onboarding? Enter this category to be recognised for the exceptional candidate experience that your organisation provides.

Companies that overcome specific cultural and logistical challenges to creating an engaging new-employee experience in a region as diverse as Asia will thrive in this category. Judges will reward organisations that have excelled in welcoming new employees all the way from day one to their ramp-up towards productivity, through the necessary knowledge, skills and disposition to become valuable team members.

This category recognises organisations that have implemented innovative and effective methods for assessing and selecting candidates. Judges will look for the use of psychometric assessments, behavioural interviews, skills-based assessments, or other tools that identify candidates who are a good fit for both the role and the company culture. Winning entries will showcase how these processes improve hiring decisions and contribute to organisational success.

This category recognises organisations that have developed creative and effective approaches to identifying and attracting top talent, including undiscovered sources of talent. Judges will look for innovative use of social media, employee referrals, talent communities, or targeted advertising campaigns. Winning entries will showcase how these strategies build a strong talent pipeline and contribute to the organisation’s success.

This category is not open for entry, and will go to the entrant who performs best across all categories in the leadership pillar. In order to qualify to win this overall winner category, companies must have entered at least three or more categories in this pillar.

Points System:

• Gold: 4 points
• Silver: 2 points
• Bronze: 1 point 

Tie-Breakers:
Most Gold: If total points are tied, the company with the highest number of Gold awards wins.
Most Silver: If Gold awards are also tied, the company with the highest number of Silver
awards wins.
Highest Average Score: If a tie still persists, the company with the highest average score
percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.

This category is not open for entry, and will go to the entrant who performs best across all categories in the learning pillar. In order to qualify to win this overall winner category, companies must have entered at least three or more categories in this pillar.

Points System:

• Gold: 4 points
• Silver: 2 points
• Bronze: 1 point 

Tie-Breakers:
Most Gold: If total points are tied, the company with the highest number of Gold awards wins.
Most Silver: If Gold awards are also tied, the company with the highest number of Silver
awards wins.
Highest Average Score: If a tie still persists, the company with the highest average score
percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.

This category is not open for entry, and will go to the entrant who performs best across all categories in the engagement pillar. In order to qualify to win this overall winner category, companies must have entered at least three or more categories in this pillar.

Points System:

• Gold: 4 points
• Silver: 2 points
• Bronze: 1 point

Tie-Breakers:
Most Gold: If total points are tied, the company with the highest number of Gold awards wins.
Most Silver: If Gold awards are also tied, the company with the highest number of Silver
awards wins.
Highest Average Score: If a tie still persists, the company with the highest average score
percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.

This category is not open for entry, and will go to the entrant who performs best across all categories in the talent acquisition pillar. In order to qualify to win this overall winner category, companies must have entered at least three or more categories in this pillar.

Points System:

• Gold: 4 points
• Silver: 2 points
• Bronze: 1 point

Tie-Breakers:
Most Gold: If total points are tied, the company with the highest number of Gold awards wins.
Most Silver: If Gold awards are also tied, the company with the highest number of Silver
awards wins.
Highest Average Score: If a tie still persists, the company with the highest average score
percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.

The most coveted of all achievements at the Employee Experience Award, this prestigious title goes to the best performing entrant across all 4 pillars: Leadership, Learning, Engagement, and Talent Acquisition.

Points System:

• Gold: 4 points
• Silver: 2 points
• Bronze: 1 point

Tie-Breakers:
Most Gold: If total points are tied, the company with the highest number of Gold awards wins.
Most Silver: If Gold awards are also tied, the company with the highest number of Silver awards wins.
Highest Average Score: If a tie still persists, the company with the highest average score percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.