Award categories

1. Employer of the Year
Pre-requisite: To enter this category, you must have entered at least three (3) other non-talent categories in the HR Excellence Awards.

This award recognises the employer that has demonstrated excellence in all aspects of HR management, resulting in improved employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. The winner will have created a positive and supportive workplace culture, implemented effective talent management and development strategies, and prioritised employee wellbeing and safety.

2. Excellence in Agile Talent Mobility *NEW*
This category recognises organisations that excel in facilitating talent mobility within their workforce, allowing employees to move seamlessly across roles and departments. Submissions should highlight innovative approaches to talent redeployment, skill development, and career progression.
3. Excellence in AI-Powered HR Solutions *NEW*
This category recognises organizations that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance their HR processes. Submissions should emphasize how AI is utilised for talent acquisition, predictive analytics, employee engagement, and other HR functions, resulting in improved outcomes.
4. Excellence in Business Transformation
This award recognises organisations that have undergone significant changes in their business models or processes, resulting in improved efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of their market, people, customer needs, and a proven track record of executing and implementing change.
5. Excellence in Corporate Wellness
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting employee health and well-being in the workplace. The winner will have implemented effective strategies that prioritise mental, physical, and emotional health, resulting in increased employee engagement, reduced absenteeism, and improved productivity.
6. Excellence in Cross-Generational Workforce Engagement *NEW*
With multi-generational workforces becoming the norm, this category recognises organisations that excel in engaging and maximising the potential of employees from various age groups. Submissions should showcase strategies for bridging generational gaps, fostering collaboration, and promoting knowledge sharing.
7. Excellence in CSR Strategy
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. The winner will have implemented effective strategies that prioritise ethical practices, sustainability, and social impact, resulting in positive outcomes for both the organisation and its stakeholders.
8. Excellence in Digital Transformation
This award recognises organisations that have successfully integrated digital technology into their operations, resulting in improved efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of emerging technologies, the ability to execute and implement change, and a commitment to ongoing innovation.
9. Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The winner will have implemented effective strategies that prioritise creating a safe and inclusive work environment, resulting in increased employee engagement, reduced turnover, and improved productivity.
10. Excellence in Employee Advocacy and Brand Ambassadors *NEW*
This category recognises organisations that empower employees to become advocates and brand ambassadors. Submissions should showcase how employees are engaged in standing up for ideas & approaches that they believe, how they are empowered to have a voice as a collective, and how these initiatives are, in turn, promoting the company’s values, mission, employer branding, and products/services.
11. Excellence in Employee Engagement
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective strategies to engage and motivate employees, resulting in increased job satisfaction, productivity, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of employee needs and preferences, and have implemented initiatives that prioritise employee voice and recognition.
12. Excellence in Employee Volunteerism
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective strategies to encourage and support employee volunteerism, resulting in positive outcomes for both the organisation and its community. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to social impact and employee empowerment, and have implemented initiatives that prioritise volunteerism and community engagement.
13. Excellence in Employer Branding
This award recognises organisations that have developed a strong employer brand, resulting in increased recruitment success, employee engagement, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of their organisation’s unique value proposition, and have implemented effective branding strategies to communicate this to potential employees.
14. Excellence in Graduate Recruitment and Development
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and developing top graduate talent, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have implemented effective recruitment and development strategies, prioritised employee growth and development, and demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning and innovation.
15. Excellence in HR Change Management
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated excellence in managing change and transformation within their HR function, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have implemented effective change management strategies, communicated effectively with employees and stakeholders, and demonstrated a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation.
16. Excellence in HR Communication Strategy
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective communication strategies within their HR function, resulting in improved employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of employee needs and preferences, and have implemented initiatives that prioritise effective communication and employee voice.
17. Excellence in HR Innovation
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to innovation within their HR function, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have implemented effective HR innovation strategies, demonstrated a clear understanding of emerging technologies and trends, and prioritised ongoing learning and development.
18. Excellence in Hybrid Working
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective strategies to support hybrid working, resulting in improved employee satisfaction, productivity, and work-life balance. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to flexibility and adaptability, implemented effective communication and collaboration tools, and prioritised employee wellbeing and safety.
19. Excellence in In-House Talent Pipeline Strategy
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective strategies to develop and retain talent within their organisation, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning and development, implemented effective talent development strategies, and prioritised employee growth and career progression.
20. Excellence in Leadership Development
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to developing and nurturing strong leadership within their organisation, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have implemented effective leadership development strategies, prioritised ongoing learning and development, and demonstrated a commitment to creating a positive and supportive leadership culture.
21. Excellence in Learning and Development

This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective learning and development strategies, resulting in improved employee performance, engagement, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of employee needs and preferences, implemented effective training and development programmes, and prioritised ongoing learning and innovation.

22. Excellence in Recovery & Rebound Strategy
This award recognises HR teams and organisations that have successfully rebounded and recovered from a crisis or unexpected event, and implemented effective strategies to rebuild and thrive in its aftermath. Nominees will have shown an ability to adapt, innovate, and take advantage of opportunities presented by the crisis, resulting in sustained or improved organisational performance, employee engagement, and business success.

Unlike the Excellence in Crisis Management Planning category, this category places emphasis on how HR teams and organisations successfully recovered and rebuilt following a crisis or unexpected event.

23. Excellence in Retention Strategy

This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective retention strategies, resulting in improved employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of employee needs and preferences, implemented effective retention programmes and initiatives, and prioritised employee growth and development.

24. Excellence in Talent Acquisition
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective talent acquisition strategies, resulting in improved recruitment success, employee engagement, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of their organisation’s unique value proposition, implemented effective recruitment strategies and initiatives, and prioritised diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices.
25. Excellence in Talent Management

This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective talent management strategies, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning and development, implemented effective talent development programmes, and prioritised employee growth and career progression.

26. Excellence in the Use of HR Tech
This award recognises organisations that have successfully integrated HR technology into their operations, resulting in improved efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of emerging HR technologies, implemented effective HR tech solutions, and prioritised ongoing innovation and improvement.
27. Excellence in Total Rewards Strategy

This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective total rewards strategies, resulting in improved employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a clear understanding of employee needs and preferences, implemented effective rewards programmes and initiatives, and prioritised employee growth and development.

28. Excellence in Women Empowerment Strategy
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting women’s empowerment in the workplace. The winner will have implemented effective strategies that prioritise gender equality, inclusivity, and diversity, resulting in increased female representation and leadership within the organisation.
29. Excellence in Workforce Flexibility
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements, resulting in improved employee satisfaction, productivity, and work-life balance. The winner will have implemented effective flexible work policies, demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and prioritised employee wellbeing and safety.
30. Excellence in Workforce Mobility

This award recognises organisations that have excelled in overseeing and nurturing employee mobility on a global scale, leading to enhanced organisational performance and triumph. The winner will stand out for their adept deployment of comprehensive international mobility policies, unwavering dedication to continuous learning and development, and a resolute focus on fostering employee growth and facilitating career advancement on the international stage.

31. Excellence in Work-Life Harmony
This award recognises organisations that have implemented effective strategies to support work-life harmony, resulting in improved employee satisfaction, productivity, and wellbeing. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to flexibility and adaptability, implemented effective work-life balance policies, and prioritised employee wellbeing and safety.
32. Excellence in Workplace Culture
This award recognises organisations that have created and maintained a positive and supportive workplace culture, resulting in improved employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion, implemented effective communication and collaboration strategies, and prioritised employee wellbeing and development.
33. Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing

This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting employee wellbeing, resulting in improved employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. The winner will have implemented effective workplace wellbeing programmes and initiatives, demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning and development, and prioritised employee safety and health.

34. Best HR Team (MNC)
Pre-requisite: To enter this category, you must have entered at least three (3) other non-talent categories in the HR Excellence Awards.

In order to be eligible for this category, the entrant must demonstrate that their organisation had 1000 employees or more during the eligibility period. Judges will be looking for HR teams that have achieved exceptional results as a unit, and demonstrated high levels of coordinated communication, strategy, execution and consistency in their overall team performance.

35. Best HR Team (SME)
In order to be eligible for this category, the entrant must demonstrate that their organisation had fewer than 1000 employees during the eligibility period. Judges will be looking for HR teams that have achieved exceptional results as a unit, and demonstrated high levels of coordinated communication, strategy, execution and consistency in their overall team performance.

Individual categories

36. HR Leader of the Year
Pre-requisite: To enter this category, you must have entered at least two (2) other non-talent categories in the HR Excellence Awards.

This award recognises an exceptional HR leader who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and management skills, resulting in improved organisational performance and success. The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning and development, implemented effective HR strategies, and created a positive and supportive workplace culture.

37. HR Manager of the Year
This award recognises an exceptional HR manager who has demonstrated outstanding management skills, resulting in improved employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. The winner will have implemented effective HR strategies and initiatives, demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning and development, and created a positive and supportive workplace culture.
38. Most People-Focused CEO
The most people-focused CEO empowers employees to drive ground-breaking initiatives to propel radical business transformation.

Not for entry

39. Overall HREA Winner (Not for Entry)

The highest honour, this award will go to the organisation that has performed best across all HREA categories (including Talent and Team categories). A points system will be used to determine the winner, and ties will be decided by judges’ percentage scores. Four points will be awarded for each Gold, 2 points for each Silver, and 1 point for each bronze.