Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Criteria
For two decades, Gallup has given the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award to organizations that meet rigorous standards by investing in their people's engagement and strengths to achieve organizational change.
What makes a workplace exceptional?
The world's best workplaces share a common trait: Leaders believe that their people are their greatest asset and strategically invest in them to achieve sustainable high performance.
In workplaces like this, employees are empowered and encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. They can use their strengths to approach work in ways that come naturally to them, allowing them to innovate and achieve more.
By centering business strategy on people and ensuring their workplace culture mirrors a commitment to engagement, organizations see returns in retention, increased productivity, improved wellbeing and organizational citizenship, better customer experiences, true organic growth, and higher revenue.
2025 marks the 20th year Gallup has honored organizations worldwide with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award. For two decades, these awards have recognized workplaces that set the global standard for employee engagement and organizational performance.
Criteria to Apply
Each year, Gallup determines which organizations meet the requirements for eligibility, and their Gallup Consulting Account Team invites them to apply for the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award.
Each application undergoes rigorous evaluation, and only organizations that exemplify excellence receive this distinction. Gallup reviews client data annually to determine whether award criteria changes are necessary. A review panel will evaluate all applications and select engagement and strengths winners after assessing quantitative and qualitative data, among other considerations.
The 2026 awards are based on Q12® administrations conducted between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, and on strengths programs and strategies occurring during the 2025 calendar year.
Application Details and Process
Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for Engagement (by invitation only)
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For Q12 surveys administered Jan. 1–Aug. 31, 2025:
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Nov. 24, 2025 – application closes
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For Q12 surveys administered Sept. 1–30, 2025:
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Dec. 31, 2025 – application closes
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For Q12 surveys administered Oct. 1–Dec. 31, 2025:
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Jan. 21, 2026 – application closes
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Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for Strengths (by invitation only)
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Oct. 15, 2025 – application opens
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Dec. 15, 2025 – application closes
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Feb. 4, 2026 – all winners will be notified with public release details to follow.
To apply, please follow these steps:
- After receiving an invitation from your Gallup Consulting Account Team, use the link in the email to fill out the online application, which includes long-form responses to qualitative question prompts.
- Upload supporting documents through the application platform.
- Applicants who have won the award for two or more consecutive years are encouraged to schedule a video conference with the review panel in place of a written application. This option can be selected on the online application form.
If your organization is invited to apply for the engagement and strengths award, we recommend requesting a video conference, regardless of how many previous wins your organization has received.
Application Tips
Please be thorough in your responses and provide examples to support your answers.
Last year's winners should focus their application responses on what is new or different from their previous application. Gallup retains the prior year's application and refers to it as needed for your overall strategic goals and initiatives.
If you have questions about your application, please email GallupWorkplaceAwards@gallup.com.
What do great managers do differently?
To recognize the essential role of the manager in the employee experience, each organization that applies for the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award is invited to nominate one manager for the Manager of the Year Award.
What do great managers do differently?
Engage and inspire their teams
The best managers help their employees see a future at your company and get on board with the company mission.
Support each employee's development
The best managers individualize their approach, with an emphasis on wellbeing, strengths and continued growth.
Coach employees to use their strengths
The best managers set their people up for success by recognizing potential and empowering them to work in ways that come naturally, leading to ongoing development and high performance.
Focus on achieving business outcomes
The best managers act as a driving force for ongoing performance growth and build workplaces that are engines of productivity and profitability.
Help build a culture of excellence
The best managers align their teams with their leaders' vision for their company culture.
What happens next if your company wins?
Gallup will notify winners two weeks before publicly announcing award recipients. At that time, Gallup will provide recipients with a media kit including personalized materials to support winners in announcing and celebrating their achievements.