Award FAQs
The 2027 online application will open in early September 2026 and close in mid-November 2026.
The criteria honor the importance of strategic, thoughtful approaches to employee health, well-being and health inclusion. The application is designed to capture leading and innovative practices in the following core areas:
- Leadership, Culture and Well-being Strategy
- Holistic Well-being
- Engagement and the Employee Experience
- Health Inclusion and Social Determinants of Health
- Metrics and Evaluation
Applications are assessed by a panel composed of team members at Business Group on Health and peer judges from member companies. Judges are trained to follow established scoring processes and guidelines. In order to maintain transparency and impartiality, company programs are evaluated only on the strength of the submitted application for that year.
All submitted company-specific information will be kept private and confidential. Judges must agree to and accept a confidentiality statement affirming that all information reviewed will be used solely for the purpose of judging the application.
Applicants can also nominate their companies for additional recognition in one or more of three categories: Mental Health, Health Inclusion and/or Global Health & Well-being.
- A small cohort of winners will be selected for this extended recognition based on demonstrated impact and innovation
- For additional recognition in Global Health & Well-being, applicants must demonstrate excellence in globally consistent programming or globally tailored programming across all regions in which the company’s employee population is located
Companies must win the main Best Employers Award: Excellence in Health & Well-being to be considered for additional recognition.
- Inclusion in Business Group on Health press release
- Listing on Business Group on Health website
- Recognition at the Best Employers Awards ceremony at Business Group on Health Annual Conference
- Discounted rate for Business Group on Health Annual Conference
- Media kit that includes a template press release, template social media posts, and a digital award seal for promotional use
- Detailed benchmarking report with individualized feedback from the panel of judges that reviewed your application
- Global, national and local recognition and brand awareness as a company that values the health and well-being of its employees
- Business Group on Health member companies and non-member companies are eligible to apply
- Companies are not required to be headquartered in the U.S.
- One parent company and one sub-unit/division are eligible to apply
Non-member companies must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Fortune 500 Company
- Top 100 of Forbes America's Largest Private Companies
- Forbes Global 2000
- A workforce with at least 5,000 employees
- There is no fee for member companies of Business Group on Health to apply
- The fees for non-members are $500 to view the application guide and $1,500 to apply for the award
- These fees will only be paid by the first contact person at a non-member company who requests access to the application. All other contacts may access the website after payment has been made
If you are in a health, benefits or well-being role at an employer, yes, you can submit your interest in being a judge. Please complete the inquiry form or contact us directly at [email protected]
You are welcome to serve as a peer judge if your company is not applying for Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being in the same cycle.
Yes, email [email protected] with your request.
For first time applicants, it can take a minimum of 80 -100 hours to complete the application. This can include an extensive review period from project managers, public relations and communications teams. Many applicants work on it throughout the entire application period. Business Group on Health releases the application as a PDF in July so companies can get a head start before the online application opens in September.
For returning applicants, it can take a minimum of 40-50 hours to complete the application. We highly recommend applicants start as early as possible.
The Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being Tips & Tricks document offers helpful tips to showcase your company’s leading initiatives.
You can also watch the on-demand orientation webinar for guidance on how to build an authentic application that showcases your organization’s commitment to employee health and well-being.
Best Employers Award: Excellence in Health & Well-being honors organizations with a comprehensive, holistic approach to employee health and well-being beyond health care benefits. The application for this award includes a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions.
Best Employers Award: Excellence in Health Care Value spotlights employers excelling in value-based health care delivery and cost management. The application for this award is shorter, also with a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions.
Each award celebrates your organization for leadership and innovation in advancing employee health, while recognizing a distinct area of excellence within the broader spectrum of workforce health strategy.