Ragan honors the 2023 Employee Communications and Top Places to Work Awards in Chicago: list of winners
Winners were celebrated at a special awards luncheon in Chicago on April 28.
The 2023 Employee Communications and Top Places to Work Awards highlighted an impressive group of finalists who, during another year of resignations, layoffs and shifting ways of working, were once again central to cultivating culture and engaging employees. We celebrate the campaigns, content, people and teams that helped organizations tell timely stories, unite their workforce across great distances, navigate change with empathy and always put people first .
Ragan Communications hosted an awards gala on April 28th during Chicago’s City Winery, where attendees were excited to gather and celebrate fellow employee comms champions
“The winners in this year’s Employee Communications and Top Places to Work Awards show that the work of communicators starts with employees,” says Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan. “Winners demonstrated how internal communicators can produce results and function as trusted advisors to the business, upping the ante for what’s possible in the role.”
Ragan congratulates this trailblazing group of communications leaders.
Grand Prize
Best Overall Intranet
CVS Health: CVS Health unites its 300k employees with Heartbeat
Bethany Children’s Health Center: BuzzCom – Bethany Children’s Health Center Intranet
CBRE: Employee Intranet
Chime: Chime Employee Comms
Mattress Firm: Mattress Firm Executes Strategic Internal Campaign to Take Employee Intranet to Cloud Nine
Seattle Children’s Hospital: CHILD: Seattle Children’s Intranet
symplr: symplr IQ
UKG: Global Employee Communications
Best Remote Work Experience/ Culture
Tutor.com/The Princeton Review: Workplace Engagement and Experience
Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
Businessolver: Workspace Anywhere
Chime: Chime Employee Comms
eXp Realty: eXp Realty
LIXIL Americas: LIXIL Americas FY23 Kickoff Event
Maximus: Customer Service Week
Muck Rack: Muck Rack’s Fully Distributed Work Culture
NVE Experience Agency: NVE Experience Agency
ServiceNow: Best Hybrid Work & Culture Environment and Events
Best Use of Technology
ServiceNow: ServiceNow Platform Use & Employee Portal
Baker Tilly US: Slay the Digital Workplace
PayPal: Live Slacking
Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
Employee Communication Campaign of the Year
Prudential Financial: Vision and Strategy Launch
ADM: ADM’s Ukraine Communications
John Deere: Bringing John Deere Employees to CES 2022, Virtually: The Next Best Thing to Being There
Mastercard LAC: Mastercard’s Copa América Femenina Employee Campaign
Mattress Firm: Mattress Firm Executes Strategic Internal Campaign to Take Employee Intranet to Cloud Nine
New York Power Authority: Powered from Within
PepsiCo: Global Business Services Awards Program
Pfizer: Conversation Leaders
T-Mobile US: Talking with Trailblazers
USAA: Centennial Celebration
Wolfspeed: Here’s Your Shot at a Tesla
Employee Communication Team of the Year
General Electric: GE to form three industry-leading public companies
Advocate Aurora Health: AAH Employee Communications Team of the Year
FORVIS: Strategic Communications Team
ServiceNow: Employee Comms Team of the Year
Syngenta US: Syngenta North America Crop Protection Internal Communications Team
Content and Communications
Alignment with External Communication
Mastercard LAC: Mastercard’s Copa América Femenina Employee Campaign
Capital One: Car Buying Outlook
John Deere: Take the Tee for Me
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG): LSEG@COP26 – Mobilising finance to go further, faster
SAS: The Batting Lab
Benefits Communication
3M: Be Well Video Series
KAMAX: Annual + Enrollment Campaign
NFP: Schurz Total Rewards Communications
Change Communication
AbbVie, Bay Area: ABA Office Move
Baystate Health: The Daily Management System
Delta Dental of California: Vaccine Information, Education and Incentive Campaign
FORVIS: Change Hub and Integration Communications
Lincoln Financial Group: Lincoln Financial Group CEO Transition
University Health: University Health UKG Launch
Community Relations
Sensata: Employee Communications
ING: ING Americas
John Deere: Make A Wish X John Deere
McGroarty & Co Consulting, LLC: McGroarty & Co. Consulting
Walt Disney World Resort: Walt Disney World Cast & Community
COVID-19 Communication
Ochsner Health: Ochsner COVID-19 Employee Protection Plan
Advocate Aurora Health: AAH COVID-19 Communication
Bloomberg Industry Group: Helping Employees Navigate Covid-19 Workplace Changes
Child Care Resource Center: CCRC News Update
DXC Technology Philippines: Our multi-dimensional COVID-19 response
PayPal: COVID-19 Communications
Wolfspeed: Here’s Your Shot at a Tesla
Crisis Response
ADM: ADM’s Ukraine Communications
Ochsner Health: Reaching Employees During Hurricane Ida
Providence: My Mental Health Matters
Data-Driven Communication
Capital One: Onboarding Email Campaign
NFP: EdChoice Data-Driven Employee Communications
Seattle Children’s Hospital: InHouse Article Engagement Score Calculator
Email Communication
Advocate Aurora Health: AAH Email Communications
Batelco: “The Weekly” Digital Newsletter
Hackensack Meridian Health: Email Communication Connects Team HMH
Medela: New Hire E-Mail Series
Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Employee-Generated Content
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Child Care Resource Center: CCRC News Update
Infineon Americas: Infineon Americas Employer Brand Campaign
Executive/Leadership Communication
Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
3M Communications: Plant & Distribution Leader Digest
Canadian Tire Corporation: CTC Employee Share-out CEO Speech
Daiichi Sankyo: President’s Message: Post ASCO Excitement
Delta Dental of California: Sarah Chavarria’s 90-Day Operations Transition
Fifth Third Bank: Connecting with Leaders in a Human Way
Payoneer: Introducing New co-CEO to the Organization
Samuel, Son & Co: Enabling effective two-way comms
Southern Nuclear: Real Leaders. Real Messaging.
Innovation in Internal Communications
Cisco Systems, Inc.: Cisco Employee Check-Ins
Delta Dental of California: 2022 Operations Communications
LIXIL Americas: LIXIL Americas FY23 Kickoff Event
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG): A poem for LSEG
SAP Brazil: Circular
Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Manager Communication
Maximus: Leadership Connection
Capital One: People Leader Digest
Mission and Values Communication
Canadian Tire Corporation: Employee Share-Out
Allogene Therapeutics: One Allogene
Atrium Health: Culture Commitments
Coast Capital Savings: The Coast Way
Food Lion, LLC: My Story of Belonging
New York Power Authority: Powered from Within
Paycom Internal Communications: New Paycom values campaign
ServiceNow: Leadership Video & Communication
Partnership with Human Resources
Encompass Health: Encompass Health Hive Employee App
AIR Communities: Annual Engagement Survey
Podcast
Ethos Creative Group: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Intent to Impact
Syngenta US: Syngenta North America Crop Protection Internal Communications Team
Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Pulse Strategy
Capital One: Financial Services Communications and Associate Initiatives Survey
Hello Benefits: Mental Wellness Employee Survey
John Hancock Wealth and Asset Management, U.S. and Europe: Mission Feedback Group
Rebranding Campaign
Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Maximus: You & Our Brand
Recruitment Campaign
John Deere: Technology Worker Recruitment Campaign
Guthrie: Your Career in Full Color
Return-to-Workplace Communication
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago: FHLBC Return to Office Employee Communications Campaign
ServiceNow: RTW ServiceNow Celebrations Campaign & Comms
Mastercard: Mastercard’s Return-to-Office Influencer’s Stories Campaign
Pacific Life: Workplace+
Use of Social Media
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Disney Cast Life
McGroarty & Co Consulting, LLC: McGroarty & Co. Consulting
Retail Business Services: Retail Business Services – National Compliment Day
Visual Storytelling
CBRE: Courageous Conversations
Fifth Third Bank: A Season to Remember
Employee Experience
Amazing Workplace Culture
Tutor.com/The Princeton Review: Workplace Engagement and Experience
Allogene Therapeutics: One Allogene
Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
CarParts.com: Customer Focused, Safety First, and a Commitment to Excellence
Cohen Veterans Network: CVN: Integrity, Community, Excellence
OM1: Amazing OMies
CSR/ESG Initiatives
Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene’s Inaugural ESG Report
Department of Culture and Tourism: Corporate Social Responsibility Unit
TEAM LEWIS: Boosting Culture By Giving Back
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment
Exelon: IT DE&I Dialogue
Syngenta US: Syngenta North America Crop Protection Internal Communications Team
Bazaarvoice: DE&I Taskforce
Curaleaf: Curaleaf’s “People First” Culture
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: DEI Organizational Transformation
Ethos Creative Group: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Intent to Impact
Office of the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Labor: 508 Matters
T-Mobile US: 365 Black History Month
UKG Global Employee Communications: UKG creates a culture centered around DEI&B
Employee Education/Training Program
John Hancock Investment Management: Fuel Up Friday
Stein IAS: Learn for Your Life
Worten – Equipamentos para o lar, SA: Unlock Your Power
Employee Engagement
John Deere: Make A Wish X John Deere
AIR Communities: Annual Engagement Survey
Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
Mastercard LAC: Mastercard’s Copa América Femenina Employee Campaign
New York Power Authority: Powered from Within
Pfizer: Conversation Leaders
Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
The Kroger Co.: @KrogerFamily Instagram Page
Employee Recognition or Reward Program
UKG: Celebrate U!
Canidae: Canidae Top Dog Award
Samuel, Son & Co.: Fostering a culture of appreciation and connection
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Ochsner Health: Bringing Your Whole Self to Work – ERG Communications 2022
ING: ING Americas
Employee Well-Being Program
Canidae: Canidae Mental Health Awareness Month
Infineon Americas: Infineon Americas InFit Walking Challenge
Innovecs: InnoClub Community
PepsiCo: Move for Good
Providence: My Mental Health Matters
Internal Event Strategy
ServiceNow: Best Hybrid Work & Culture Environment and Events
AbbVie, Bay Area: AbbVie, Bay Area, Grand Opening
Aflac: Aflac Employee Engagement Week 2022
Alexion: Uniquely Alexion Celebration 2022
BAE Systems: BAE Systems: Extraordinary Executive Communications
Honeywell: Safety Week Campaign
Mastercard: Mastercard’s First Town Hall of 2022 for LAC
Intranet Collaboration & Innovation
Employee Engagement
G&S: The GiSt
Sunrise Banks, N.A.: Life@Sunrise
Employee Recognition
Samuel, Son & Co.: Fostering a culture of appreciation and connection
Checkmarx: Checkmarx Human Resources
Internal Social Network
Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
G&S: The GiSt
North Texas Food Bank: Using ‘Community’ to Engage Food Bankers
Launch or Relaunch
Aflac: Aflac Hub Intranet Launch
PepsiCo: Global Business Services Yammer Community
Capital One: Pulse Intranet Launch
Flagship Pioneering: Curie: Flagship Pioneering’s Intranet
G&S: The GiSt
Guthrie: Intranet Redesign
Intranet Content
Best Feature/Section
Mastercard: Up On Strategy
Mizuho Americas: The Sustainability Hub
Baker Tilly: More to My Story
Integral: Lam Intranet Series
John Deere: John Deere Ukraine Relief Efforts
Prudential Communications: Giving a coworker the gift of life
Instructional or Educational Content
Manulife: Demystifying Manulife Canada
TaskUs: The Academy
Baker Tilly US: Slay the Digital Workplace
Mizuho Americas: The Sustainability Hub
Stein IAS: The Universal Knowledge Foundation
Publications (Electronic and Print)
Annual Report or CSR/ERG Report
John Deere: John Deere Sustainability Report
Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene’s Inaugural ESG Report
Chugach Alaska Corporation: Chugach Annual Report: Honoring the Past, Navigating the Future
Article Series/Blog
ADM: ADM’s Ukraine Communications
MUFG Union Bank: Inside U.S. Bank Series
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Energy Sciences Center Profiles
symplr: Blog Content Production Process
Feature Article
Chugach Alaska Corporation: Inside the Rise of Women Leading Alaska Native Corporations
Manulife: Canada Communications
Fifth Third Bank: Living a Dream, Recalling a Nightmare
Seattle Children’s Hospital: InHouse Article
USAA: Fate – Feature Article
Internal Email Campaign
Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
Ethos Creative Group: Caring for Each Other
Interview or Profile
Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Building Top Teams Without Bias
symplr: symplr Honors Personal Connection to DAISY Award
Baker Tilly: More to My Story
John Hancock Investments: 6 questions for …
Newsletter
Novavax: The Jab: Revamp of Internal Newsletter
Retail Business Services: The Daily Dish
Accolade Inc.: In Case You Missed It
Canidae: Canidae Crew News
Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
EvolveMKD: EvolveMKD Quarterly Newsletter
Mastercard: Mastercard’s LAC Insider
New York Power Authority: Inside Operations
NVE Experience Agency: NVE Experience Agency
Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Remote Culture
Virtual Employee Engagement
Bayer: #GoMove Global Virtual Mission
Array Behavioral Care: Best Remote Work Experience in Behavioral Health
Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
Curaleaf: Curaleaf’s “People First” Culture
Maximus: Customer Service Week
Tutor.com/The Princeton Review: Workplace Engagement and Experience
Virtual Events/Celebrations
AAA Club Alliance (ACA): ACA’s Virtual Amazing Race!
Canadian Tire Corporation: Employee Share-Out
Coast Capital: One Coast and Leaders Forum
Maximus: Juneteenth Carnival
Teradata: Together LIVE!
Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Virtual Executive Communication
Cisco: Executive Communications, Enterprise Networking & Cloud
Advocate Aurora Health: AAH Virtual Executive Communications
Canadian Tire Corporation: Employee Share-Out
Virtual Onboarding
Samuel, Son & Co. with Unily: Putting a culture of trust, transparency and wellbeing into onboarding
Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Virtual Town Hall
Travel + Leisure Co.: Travel + Leisure Co. Virtual Global Town Halls
LIXIL Americas: LIXIL Americas FY23 Kickoff Event
Mastercard: Mastercard’s First Town Hall of 2022 for LAC
Notre Dame International: NDI Global Town Hall
PepsiCo: GBS Mytaverse Town Hall
The Regional Municipality of Durham: Durham Region CAO Town Halls
Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Technology
Encompass Health: Encompass Health Hive Employee App
Cresco Labs: Lighting Up The Joint
Q&D Construction: LINQD (by Speakap)
Worten – Equipamentos para o lar, SA: Employee App myWorten
Video
DE&I Video
Food Lion, LLC: My Story of Belonging
symplr: Dia De Los Muertos | Tribute for Greg Hall by ERG SHINE
The Regional Municipality of Durham: Durham Employee Census – Internal Video
Exelon: IT DE&I Dialogue
Humorous Video
Baker Tilly US: Slay the Digital Workplace
SAS Institute: National “No Phishing” Day
Checkmarx: Checkmarx Human Resources
Flagship Pioneering: The Office (SLT Mockumentary)
Informational Video
Mizuho Americas: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Finance and ESG
Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group Corporate Brand Refresh
Child Care Resource Center: CCRC News Update
Inspirational Video
Prudential Communications: Giving a coworker the gift of life
Bethany Children’s Health Center: Kaleb’s First Steps
New York Power Authority: Eureka! Innovation Challenge Launch Video
Mastercard LAC: What happens when the ball starts rolling? Video
Recruitment Video
Guthrie: Your Career in Full Color
Infineon Americas: Infineon Americas Employer Brand Anthem Video
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago: Buddy Program Spotlight
Mizuho Americas: A Day in the Life at Mizuho: An Analyst’s Perspective
Tacoma Power: Power Internal Communications Team
Top Places to Work
Large Organization (More than 1,000 Employees)
Alkermes
Audible
Curaleaf
Department of Culture and Tourism: Internal Communication Section
eXp Realty
John Hancock
McDermott Will & Emery
ServiceNow
The Guthrie Clinic
Tutor.com/The Princeton Review
Mid-Size Organization (100–1,000 Employees)
Array Behavioral Care
Canidae
Coyne PR
Hotwire
ING
Kivvit
Merit America
Morning Consult
Mower
TEAM LEWIS
Wray Ward
Small Organization (Less than 100 Employees)
Brodeur Partners
Clyde Group
Cohen Veterans Network
Corporate Ink
EvolveMKD
Identity
iQ 360
Ketner Group
Peppercomm
Rinck Advertising
SourceCode Communications
Stanton Communications
Stein IAS
The Levinson Group
For more information on our winners, check out their profiles