We are looking for organizations that can demonstrate an organizational level commitment and a proven business case for a happy workforce. At the same time, we are looking out for the forward-thinking businesses are increasingly recognizing that happiness translates into tangible business outcomes and has an impact on the bottom line.

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The Award Committee has drawn up some general and specific criteria for each award category. These criteria not only facilitate the evaluation work of the judges but also give applicants an insight into what the assessors and judges are looking for.

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Each entry is judged on 6 weighted criteria like, Uniqueness of Initiative, Leadership Commitment, Planning and Implementation, Employee Engagement and Communication, Performance Management and Impact and Continuity and Replication Potential (sustainability of the program). The assessment will be scored from 1 to 5, with 5 being the maximum score with the strongest evidence provided.

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The assessment criteria are explained below and could vary from category to category:

 

Uniqueness of Initiative: This criterion rewards organizations that have unique initiatives/programs for increasing happiness at the workplace. Organizations that provide evidence that the project/initiative made a transformative contribution to organizational culture and happiness of employees. This criterion asks how the initiative is innovative and unique? What level of research was done to understand other existing initiatives around the same areas? Is the uniqueness in terms of the idea, planning, implementation, engagement etc. or all? Every organization is going to approach these principles to successful happiness initiatives in different ways, unique to the organization and the results desired.

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Leadership Commitment: This criterion rewards organizations that demonstrate leadership and commitment at the highest level. Their actions drive a positive workforce culture and sustain the organization. Leadership engages with the workforce and fosters an environment of happiness and positive reinforcement. Leadership extends full support and resources for the initiatives to go forward. Evidence that there is a clear correlation between leadership behaviors, the culture they create and team engagement.

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Planning and Implementation: This criterion rewards organizations that demonstrate there is a process for initiative development, employee involvement, long and short-term goals setting, critical success factors, key performance indicators etc. Business Case development to determine suitability of initiative and its compatibility to the vision, mission, business objectives and strategy. Cost benefit analysis and feasibility to ensure that resources required are available or can be developed or obtained. Approach to converting goals and targets into to actions.

 

Employee Participation and Communication: This criterion rewards organizations that demonstrate that employees were closely involved and engaged. Employee suggestions and feedback has been included before starting the initiative and to measure impact. Evidence that the initiative engaged a significant number of people in the organization, including senior leaders. Evidence that the project/initiative brought about (behavioral) change and employee engagement.Employees were closely involved and engaged. How was the initiative idea communicated to employees, how was communication done during the initiative to keep employees updated and motivated, how were the successes, failures and challenges communicated, how was communication used as a tool to encourage employees and celebrate successes.

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Performance Management and Impact:  It is not enough simply to have a strategy; it needs to be implemented and embedded throughout the organization. This criteria rewards organizations that demonstrate it sets and has Key Performance measures including short and long terms targets are in place to measure performance. These measures include qualitative and quantitative data and information to monitor and measure success. There is a process in place to reflect, review and evaluate the initiative successes, challenges and failures. This criterion asks how are data gathered, reviewed, analyzed and shared internally and/or externally.

 

Continuity and Replication Potential: This criteria rewards organizations that demonstrate there is a clear potential for the initiative to be continued and for good practice and innovation to be shared with other organizations. Evidence that the output is transferable and applicable to other projects/initiatives.