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Apply for the Honor Roll
First:
Request the Companies That Care Honor Roll application form. Fill out this request form and Center For Companies That Care will send you an Honor Roll Application.
Second:
Fill out the Honor Roll application, then e-mail the completed version to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
How it Works
Eligibility:
All employers, regardless of size, sector, ownership (publicly-held or privately-owned) or profit classification (for-profit or not-for-profit) are eligible to apply for the Companies That Care Honor Roll.
Criteria for being named to the Honor Roll:
All organizations that are working to positively affect education and workforce development/diversity and who consistently practice the 10 Characteristics of Socially Responsible Employers will be named to the Honor Roll. The latter is confirmed with survey data and the former is conveyed through an application.
See if your organization is on the right path: Take the Organizational Self-Assessment Quick Test
Application:
Request an Honor Roll application.
Processing Fee:
There is no fee associated with applying to the Honor Roll if your organization conducts an employee survey that covers the 10 Characteristics and you are willing to share your survey data with us for review and analysis. If taking this option, the only feedback you receive is whether or not your organization is being named to the Honor Roll.
If you would like to administer our survey that covers all 10 Characteristics, there is a fee depending upon the number of employees to be surveyed and whether or not you request any survey customization. Your organization will receive quantitative feedback as well as the decision about it being named to the Honor Roll.
Application/Survey Data Submission Deadlines:
As this is an annual recognition, Honor Roll applications must be re-submitted each year.
Application/survey data submission deadline for the 2018 Honor Roll is December 4, 2017 for first-time applicants, but applications may be submitted any time of year up until that date.
For subsequent-year applicants, the application/data submission deadline for 2018 is also December 4, 2017 but applications may be submitted any time up until that date.
Review Process:
Survey data will be organized by the 10 Characteristics and analyzed by Companies That Care staff.
Each application passes through a multi-step rigorous review process that includes:
- A two-tier evaluation of the written application. A staff member from Center for Companies That Care and a member of the Honor Roll Independent Review Panel both review the application. The Independent Review Panel is made up of seasoned professionals from the fields of human resources, community relations, academia and organizational development.
- A media search for relevant news about the organization in the past year.
- A telephone interview to discuss follow-up questions, if needed.
- An analysis of relevant employee attitude survey data, as indicated above.
- A review of the applicant's website.
Announcement of Honor Roll recipients:
Companies That Care Day, the third Thursday in March. Honor Roll recipients will be confidentially notified approximately one month in advance in order to prepare their celebrations.
Nominate a Company That Cares:
Perhaps you know a Company That Cares. Send them a nomination letter encouraging them to apply for the Honor Roll or send us a nomination email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll do the rest. Be sure to tell us:
- Name of the organization being nominated
- Name of a contact person
- Address, phone and email of the contact person
- Reasons the organization deserves to be on the Companies That Care Honor Roll
- Your name and contact information
Why the Honor Roll
Center for Companies That Care channels the power of business to address tenacious social issues. By doing so, we improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities and ensure social responsibility. The Companies That Care Honor Roll fulfills the recognition aspect of our mission and publicly spotlights and celebrates all Companies That Care, especially employers working to positively affect education and workforce development/diversity. There is no limit to the number of companies that can be on the Honor Roll; all organizations that meet the standards of a Company That Cares will be listed on the annual Honor Roll.
Benefits of Being on the Honor Roll
Inclusion on the Honor Roll fosters a favorable public image, which increases employees' pride in their organization. Despite the current economic situation, top performers are still in demand and have a choice of where to work. Employees prefer working for companies that provide a supportive work environment and have a social conscience. Achieving Honor Roll status conveys a commitment to social responsibility.
Employers named to the Companies That Care Honor Roll will be recognized as leading, caring companies. When you are selected your organization will:
- Be listed on the Honor Roll on the Center for Companies That Care website
- Be invited to participate in an Honor Roll/Companies That Care Day recognition event
- Receive a news release template to communicate your achievement to local media
- Be invited to participate in Companies That Care events
- Have an opportunity to mentor other companies who want to learn from your organization
- Become part of a like-minded employer group with which you can network
- Receive artwork for use in communicating your achievement to your stakeholders
Organizations are invited to join the Community of Caring to receive not only the above benefits but also many more, including additional visibility and recognition, leadership and governance opportunities, and valuable resources such as the Companies That Care employee engagement survey and best practices research.
Why be on a list?
The short answer is: Value...Value to the organization, to the employee, to the customer, to the investor.
Research documented in an article in the May 2003 issue of Workforce Magazine, written by Joanne Cleaver, gives many reasons why getting on a "Best of" list pays off for a company. Recognition is always appreciated, but it doesn't stop there:
- Ranking on a sought-after list serves as a compelling attraction tool among recruits, employees, investors, and customers
- Once a company is established as a "best" employer, employee expectations continue to rise. The challenge to maintain or even move up on the list can motivate both employee and employer to continue to live up to and improve upon this outstanding reputation
Even though the article reference above is now over 10 years old, it is still relevant
A recent study from Cornell University provides hard data to back up the positive effects of being on a "best" list:
Financial performance:
Companies on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers were analyzed and it was found that companies on the list are worth 3 to 6 percent more than peers that aren't. The conclusion of this study by Daniel Simon, assistant professor with the Department of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell, is that companies that offer work/life benefits deemed significant enough to earn a ranking on the Working Mother list are worth $12,000 more per employee than peers who do not offer these valuable employee programs.
Marketing payback:
Often, tremendous media attention is bestowed upon list winners, all at no cost to the individual company.
Increasing customer confidence:
Salespeople, customers, and clients consider list status when scrutinizing potential suppliers and vendors, especially before signing long-term contracts. Recognition on a list provides a proverbial "stamp of approval" which, in turn, increases confidence in a potential vendor.
Raising the bar:
In organizations, reform-minded human resources staffers are pushing for updated practices and policies. Once a company is on one of these it can be embarrassing to "fall off." Inclusion one year does not guarantee inclusion the next. Each edition of a list starts with a clean slate and a company has to prove its case all over again. The bar is always getting higher and the most successful companies see this as a positive way to grow.
Employee satisfaction:
The value of ranking well on a prestigious list resonates strongly with current and potential employees. Current employees take pride in being part of a recognized organization and are committed to its success. Employment candidates pursue recognized employers. As a result, the turnover and recruitment costs are often less for companies on a "best" list.
Managers feel a stronger sense of commitment to the policies and practices that were cited in the award. They realize they are the ones responsible for maintaining what has been officially recognized as an excellent place to work.
One thing is certain, when a company is acknowledged as a great company, everyone wins.
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