Award categories
Leadership
1. Best Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
2. Best ESG Programme
3. Best Executive Coaching Programme
4. Best First-Time Manager Programme
5. Best Graduate Training Programme
6. Best Holistic Leadership Development Strategy
7. Best HR Communication Strategy
8. Best Management Training Programme
9. Best Organisational Change Leadership
10. Best Succession Planning Strategy
11. Best Women Leadership Programme
12. Most Innovative Leadership Development Programme
13. Most Inspiring Leader – Individual Talent
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 2026. This is to support their claims to the judges with examples of work the candidate had been involved in leading or overseeing.
Learning
14. Best Capability Development Programme for the HR team
15. Best Career Development Programme
16. Best In-House Learning Academy
17. Best Learning and Development Programme
18. Best Learning Culture Journey
19. Best Learning Technology Implementation
20. Best Skilling Strategy
21. Best Soft Skills Training Programme
22. Best Transformative Learning Strategy *NEW*
Engagement
23. Best Employee Advocacy Programme
24. Best Employee Engagement Initiative
25. Best Employee Feedback and Listening Strategy
26. Best Employee Wellness Strategy
27. Best Employer Branding
28. Best HR Digital Transformation Strategy
29. Best Parental and Caregiver Support Programme
30. Best Remote Work Strategy
31. Best Rewards and Recognition Programme
32. Best Transformative Flexible Work Strategy *NEW*
33. Best Use of Technology to Enhance Employee Engagement
34. Best Work-life Harmony Strategy
35. Best Workforce Innovation
36. Most Innovative and Sustainable Office Design
This category recognises organisations that have created inspiring, sustainable, and ergonomic workspaces. Winning entries demonstrate how office design enhances employee experience, fosters collaboration, boosts productivity, and strengthens talent attraction, while reflecting a commitment to environmental responsibility.
Talent Acquisition
37. Best Campus Recruitment Strategy
This category celebrates organisations that deliver exceptional initiatives to enhance campus recruiting. Entries that highlight how the organisation engages, sources, selects, and hires young talent – for both entry-level positions and internships – while creating meaningful touchpoints with students will be recognised.
38. Best In-House Candidate Experience
This category celebrates organisations that consistently provide a positive, respectful, and professional experience for candidates. Entries that demonstrate how the organisation manages every touchpoint – from application to interview, hiring, and onboarding – to reflect a strong employer brand will be recognised.
39. Best In-House Recruitment Team
This category celebrates talent acquisition teams that excel in managing recruitment and hiring processes. Entries that show how teams coordinate effectively with managers and stakeholders to source, screen, and communicate with candidates will be recognised.
40. Best In-House Career Website
This category celebrates organisations with user-friendly career websites that attract external candidates and encourage internal mobility. Entries that highlight a clear, compelling, and accessible platform, supported by strong planning, technical execution, and company-wide buy-in, will be recognised.
41. Best Onboarding Experience
This category celebrates organisations that create engaging onboarding journeys for new employees. Entries that show how the organisation equips staff with the knowledge, skills, and support to become productive team members, while overcoming cultural and logistical challenges, will be recognised.
42. Best Recruitment Referral System
This category celebrates organisations that deliver outstanding employee referral programmes. Entries that demonstrate how the programme is incentivised, communicated, promoted internally, and recognises employees for their referrals will be recognised.
43. Best Recruitment Marketing Campaign
This category celebrates organisations that execute innovative recruitment marketing campaigns. Entries that highlight compelling storytelling, creative content formats, and targeted messaging to attract and engage top talent while positioning the organisation as an employer of choice will be recognised.
44. Best Talent Assessment and Selection Process
This category celebrates organisations that implement effective and innovative methods for assessing and selecting candidates. Entries that show how psychometric tests, skills-based assessments, behavioural interviews, or other tools improve hiring decisions and ensure cultural fit will be recognised.
45. Best Talent Sourcing and Attraction Strategy
This category celebrates organisations that develop creative and impactful strategies to identify and attract top talent. Entries that highlight innovative use of social media, employee referrals, talent communities, or targeted campaigns to build a strong and sustainable talent pipeline will be recognised.
Not Open for Entry
46. Overall Leadership Award
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.
47. Overall Learning Award
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.
48. Overall Engagement Award
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.
49. Overall Talent Acquisition Award
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.
50. Employee Experience Champion of the Year
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.