Are you losing top talent to competing firms?
Secure your edge in the talent war with Happy Workplaces Certification — a definitive endorsement of your commitment to workplace happiness, designed to attract and retain the industry's finest.
Happy Place to Work® Certification Process
The Happy Place to Work® Certification recognizes organizations that value employee happiness and wellbeing. The process includes an application, an Excellence Audit or Wellbeing Index Survey, and a thorough HR Check of labor law compliance and HR practices. Results are reviewed by our Scientific Committee, and companies scoring above 65 earn the certification—formally presented as a mark of trust, culture, and employee-centered excellence.
1. Application
The certification journey begins with your official application. This form is not just a request—it acts as a mutual agreement that clearly defines the responsibilities of both parties. By applying, your company commits to participating in the certification process, while Happy Place to Work® outlines the scope of services to be delivered. This ensures transparency from the start and establishes a professional framework for the evaluation and recognition of your workplace culture.
2. Excellence Audit
In this phase, we thoroughly review and evaluate your company’s past workplace awards. A meta-analysis is conducted to assess the methodology and scoring of each award and determine how well they align with the Happy Place to Work® Happiness Framework. To strengthen the objectivity of the process, independent members of our Scientific Committee carry out a parallel evaluation using the Delphi method, ensuring a balanced and expert-driven assessment. If your company has not previously received any awards, we conduct the Wellbeing Index Survey, which directly measures employee happiness, trust, and pride at work. This survey provides deep insights into the employee experience and allows us to apply the same rigorous standards consistently across all organizations.
3. HR Check
Your company is then asked to complete the HR Check Form, a comprehensive evaluation tool that examines compliance with labor laws and the presence of fundamental HR practices across the entire employee lifecycle—from hiring and onboarding to development, retention, and termination. This process is guided by the Labor Right Index, which monitors legal compliance, ensuring that your company operates in line with national and international labor standards. Beyond legal alignment, the HR Check also assesses whether your HR systems are institutionalized, transparent, and fair, providing employees with an environment of security and equity. This stage is essential for demonstrating not only compliance but also a strong commitment to ethical and sustainable workplace practices.
4. Results
Once the documentation and assessments are complete, all materials are reviewed by the Happy Place to Work® Scientific Committee. The committee examines the evidence in detail and assigns scores based on both the Excellence Audit/Wellbeing Survey (50%) and the HR Check (50%). To achieve certification, your company must score at least 65 in each area. The classification of results is as follows:
-
65–74: Good Employee Experience
-
75–79: Very Good Employee Experience
-
80–84: Outstanding Employee Experience
-
85+: Excellent Employee Experience
This stage not only determines eligibility for certification but also provides a clear benchmark for understanding the quality of your employee experience. Many organizations use these results as a roadmap for continuous improvement in workplace culture and HR practices.
5. Certification
Once your company successfully meets the criteria, you are officially awarded the Happy Place to Work® Certification. The certificate is presented in person, honoring your achievement in front of your team and leadership, making it a celebratory milestone for your organization. Beyond recognition, this certification serves as a powerful communication tool—you can share it across websites, social media, recruitment campaigns, and employer branding platforms to highlight your commitment to employee happiness and workplace excellence. The certification demonstrates to employees, customers, and stakeholders that your company is not only successful but also a trusted and employee-centered workplace.
The Happy Place to Work® Certification evaluates employee happiness, workplace awards, and HR practices through a transparent five-step process.
1
1. Application
Submit your official application. This form also defines the responsibilities and scope of the certification process.
2
2. Excellence Audit
We review your past workplace awards through a meta-analysis and expert evaluation. If no awards exist, we run the Wellbeing Index Survey to measure employee happiness.
3
3. HR Check
Your company completes the HR Check Form, which evaluates compliance with labor laws and essential HR practices, monitored by the Labor Right Index.
4
4. Results
The Scientific Committee reviews all documents. A minimum score of 65 in both Excellence/Wellbeing and HR Check is required. Results are classified from Good to Excellent Employee Experience.
5
5. Certification
Successful companies receive the Happy Place to Work® Certificate, formally presented and ready to be celebrated and promoted across all platforms.
We'll get in touch!
Leave your email, let us answer all your questions.
Happy Place to Work® Certification
Happy Place to Work® certification globally registers organizations with an extraordinary employee experience. The process demonstrates that global standards are met based on employee feedback through an independent analysis structure. Certification helps job seekers distinguish which companies truly offer a great company culture.
Nominate your company!
This esteemed Certification Badge serves as a highly visible hallmark of your unwavering commitment to workplace happiness. Display it prominently to signal your dedication to creating an empowering and positive work environment.
Certification Badge
The Excellence Emblem is a prestigious token, specifically acknowledging your standing as the Happiest Workplace in your industry. It acts as a powerful testament to your company’s unparalleled focus on employee well-being.
Excellence Emblem
More than just a document, this Certificate is a symbol of accomplishment. It’s a tangible celebration of your exceptional efforts, designed to be proudly displayed among your organization’s milestones and remembered in moments that define your success.
Certificate of Achievement
The Benefits of Being Happy Place to Work Certified
Why Choose Happy Place to Work® Certification?
Because happy teams drive performance, profit, and retention.
38
%
more productive
Engaged employees are 38% more productive compared to others.
184
%
more annual profit
Companies with engaged teams can operate with double the profitability.
58
%
less turnover
Companies with high engagement observe a 58% lower turnover rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Happy Place to Work® Certification globally registers organizations with an outstanding employee experience. The process begins with the Excellence Audit, where past workplace awards and recognition are carefully reviewed through a meta-analysis and independent evaluation. If no awards are available, employee feedback is collected via the Wellbeing Index. This independent analysis structure ensures that global standards are met. Certification helps job seekers identify which companies genuinely provide a great workplace culture. By recognizing organizations with a proven employee experience and offering research-backed verification, the certification gives employers an edge in recruitment and strengthens their employer brand.
We determine the Happy Place to Work List according to the companies' people-oriented management approach and practices that support work culture. We also examine evidence from companies about the sustainability of these practices.
The Happiest Workplaces List is a list we publish annually, containing the happiest workplaces in each industry. Happy Workplace certified companies enter the list directly. Apart from this, we can determine the happiest workplaces by using the Meta Analysis method for industries where no applications are made.
Happy Place to Work® Certification globally registers organizations with an extraordinary employee experience. The process demonstrates that global standards are met based on employee feedback through an independent analysis structure. Certification helps job seekers distinguish which companies truly offer a great company culture. By globally recognizing organizations with a great employee experience and providing research-backed verification, the certification gives employers an advantage in recruitment processes and creates a strong attraction.
Happy Place to Work® accreditation demonstrates your commitment to building a happy and supportive workplace. It elevates your brand value by positioning your company as a trusted employer that truly prioritizes employee wellbeing. Through the Wellbeing Index, you gain clear insights into how employees think and feel about their work, turning feedback into actionable improvements. Accredited companies are featured in our global listings, helping them attract and retain top talent while strengthening their reputation and competitive edge in the market.
The certification process begins with the Excellence Audit, where we review your organization’s past workplace awards through a Meta Analysis conducted by our Scientific Committee. This is followed by the HR Check, which evaluates compliance with fundamental HR practices. For companies without prior awards, eligibility is based on scoring 70 or higher in both the Wellbeing Index Survey and the HR Check Analysis. In addition, organizations that are featured in our listings as a result of the Excellence Audit automatically qualify for certification.
You will continue to have access to your survey results and have the opportunity to access reports that will help improve employee engagement. Your company name will not appear on any lists and will be kept confidential.
All permanent employees (full and part time) and permanent contractors must participate in the survey. Seasonal and seasonal service providers may be excluded.
To achieve a 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent, you would need to have the following percentages of survey respondents based on the number of employees for your company: 50 or fewer employees = 85%, 51 – 150 = 70%, 151 – 500 = 50%, 501 – 1,000 = 30%, 1,001 – 3,000 = 15%, 3,001 – 5,000 = 8%, 5,000-9,999 = 5%, 3% participation rate is required for 10,000 and above.
Yes. All participating companies will receive written survey scores overall and by dimension (achievement, pride, confidence). Benchmark and interactive detailed reports are charged according to the number of employees.
Wellbeing Index is strictly confidential. Companies cannot access individual employees' answers. Reports are presented as averages in a way that does not reveal the identity of the respondents. No reports will be generated for groups of less than 4 employees.
Being a candidate for the Happy Place to Work List is free. We charge a participation fee for Happy Place to Work accreditation, awards and research reports, depending on the company size.
The survey is administered online. For this, we get the list of your employees from you and send the survey/share the link. In cases where employees cannot be reached online, we can administer the survey via paper and pencil, SMS or QR code.
After your certification process is completed, you can start using Happy Workplaces accreditation for 1 year.
Do you think your organization is a Happy Place to Work?
Nominate your company! Don't miss the opportunity to show your people-centered culture, share the practices that contribute to a positive work environment, recognize and reward the efforts of employees and celebrate the successes!
