The application consists of four parts:

• Strategy, Leadership and Culture
• Well-being in the Work Environment
• Employee Experience, Engagement and Work/Life Support
• Metrics and Data Assessment

Applicants must:

• Have a tobacco-free indoor policy. All tobacco-products (including any electronic nicotine delivery system (e-cigarette aerosols, vapes, e-hookahs, etc.) are not permitted inside any company-owned buildings or leased space.
• Include holistic components about their initiatives such as, but not limited to: 
  • Emotional Health
  • Financial Security
  • Social Connectedness
  • Community Involvement
• Include specifics regarding metrics associated with employee well-being beyond physical health

Global Distinction Application Content

To apply, companies must answer questions about both organizational-wide and country-specific well-being initiatives. The award does not honor any one specific initiative; it recognizes corporate headquarters (HQ) and in-country strategic planning, benefits and programming.

Local implementation of a company’s global well-being strategy may vary and in certain geographies better traction and success can be seen. The application asks for details of your organization's overall global well-being philosophy and strategy; and how you localized and implemented it in a country outside the U.S. which demonstrates the realization and success of corporate well-being goals.

Companies can apply for any one country. That geography should have an employee footprint sufficient to support broad-based employee well-being programs. Whereas the Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being award recognizes U.S. programs exclusively, the Global Distinction award only examines wellness efforts outside the U.S.

The application sections are:  

• Corporate collects information about well-being strategy; drivers of a healthy culture; metrics; and communication mechanisms for the entire organization.
• Local focuses on the following topics at the country-level: in-country health benefits; health and well-being strategy; resources for health; drivers of a healthy culture; employee health and program metrics; program implementation; and communication mechanisms.

Applicants are encouraged to supplement their application with additional, requested resource materials. These materials provide context and/or background about corporate health and well-being efforts.

All application responses must be in English.

Best Employers Application Tips

Here are some tips to help you when completing the Best Employers application.

• Start early.Compile all the necessary data and information before applying via the online tool. Work across all your internal teams and departments to make sure you are adequately prepared to submit an award winning application.


• Review the informational webinar presented on March 10, 2020 featuring a platinum Best Employers and Global Distinction winner.


• Read the questions carefully and craft your responses accordingly. To obtain maximum points, answer the questions completely and provide the necessary details requested. Many applicants lose points due to lack of sufficient details. Use the word counts as a guide.


• Give yourself enough time! Don't wait until the deadline to finalize and submit your application. Often, applicants wait until the last minute to submit their application, and with increased traffic volumes, the online application system may slow down. It's never too early to finalize your application.

All applications must be submitted using the online application, NOT the PDF version.

Email bestemployers@businessgrouphealth.org if you have additional questions or run into any problems submitting your application.

Global Distinction Application Tips

• Read the questions carefully and craft your responses accordingly. The application (and its scoring) is strategically designed to highlight and reward certain elements of a corporate global health and well-being program. If answers provided are only vaguely relevant, they will not earn maximum points.
• Include the right people at your company when developing your application. Portions of this application are best completed by staff in the corporate headquarters. Other sections may be more appropriate for in-country or regional staff.
• Pick your country wisely. Don't assume that certain geographies are "easier" than others to win the Global Distinction award. Scoring is designed to create an equal playing field across geographies.
• Supplemental information is important.This information provides more culture and context about a company's health and well-being initiatives. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide all requested information.
• Give yourself enough time! Often applicants wait until the last minute to submit their application. With increased traffic volumes, the online application system may slow down. It is possible to prevent possible frustrations, though. It's never too early to finalize your application.

1 | I am ready to apply, but can't log in. How can I retrieve my username and password?

Submit a request for a username and password by clicking on one of the following links:

• Member
• Not a member

See the member listing page to check if you're a Business Group on Health member.

2 | Can I still apply if my company is not a Business Group on Health member?

Yes, however, non-members must meet one of the following criteria: Is a Fortune or Global Fortune 500 company; Is listed in the top 100 of Forbes America's Largest Private Companies; Has at least 5,000 employees.

3 | Is there an application fee for members of the Business Group on Health?

No, there is no fee for members of Business Group on Health.

4 | Is there an application fee for non-members?

Yes, there is an application fee for non-members. There is a one-time $500 access fee and a $1,500 per application fee. The fees cover the administration and management of the Best Employers: Excellence in Health and Well-being and Global Distinction awards.

5 | When is the application deadline?

All applications are due by 5 pm EST on May 22, 2020.  

6 | How can I download the application questions prior to submitting an application?

The PDF version of the application is available for Business Group on Health members or non-members that have paid the $500 access fee.

7 | Do applicants for Global Distinction have to apply for or win a domestic Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being award?

No, applicants do not need to apply for and/or win a Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being award in order to apply for or to win a Global Distinction.

8 | How does the Business Group define well-being?

Well-being is happiness, quality of life, thriving and flourishing. Well-being can be described as the way an individual feels, functions, and how his or her judges their life. Read Seeing the Bigger Picture: Beyond Wellness to Well-being. This document defines well-being and presents employers with the business case for developing a broader well-being strategy.

9 | What topics does the Global Distinction application address?

The Global Distinction application recognizes how local markets take a corporate well-being strategy and make it their own, locally. The application itself is designed to reflect this goal and is separated into two sections—corporate and local/country-specific that address the following topics:

The corporate section focuses on:

• Corporate well-being strategy;
• Healthy culture;
• Metrics; and
• Communication.

The local section of the application focuses on:

• In-country health benefits;
• Local well-being goals;
• Healthy lifestyle resources;
• Healthy culture drivers;
• Program metrics;
• Implementation and;
• Communication methods.
  
  

10 | My company has wonderful health and well-being initiatives in only one country or region. Can we apply for Global Distinction?

Yes! The application can be about any country (except the U.S.). That geography should have an employee footprint sufficient to support broad-based employee well-being programs. Whereas the Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being award recognizes U.S. programs exclusively, the Global Distinction award only examines well-being efforts outside the U.S.

11 | Can we submit materials in languages other than English for the Global Distinction application?

No, all application responses must be in English. Although you may submit examples of your company's health communication materials in other languages, keep in mind that judges may not be able to read or understand the materials you provide. Please be sure to describe your non-English supplemental materials and their intended purpose in your application.

12 | Who should complete my company's Global Distinction application?

Portions of the application are best completed by staff in the corporate headquarters (e.g., corporate communication). Other sections may be more appropriate for in-country or regional staff (e.g., benefit coverage).

13 | Am I required to submit outcomes documentation for the U.S. application?

Yes, applicants must submit outcome data specific to Part 4- Metrics & Data Assessment. Applicants must submit at least ONE document (up to three documents are allowed). Acceptable formats include PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents, not to exceed five pages per document.

14 | Can I submit my application on paper and avoid using the online application system?

No, all applicants must submit their application electronically through the online system.

15 | Will the data I share be kept confidential and be used expressly for this application?

Yes, all judges are required to sign a confidentiality agreement as part of the judging process. Business Group on Health staff will obtain permission to use any data submitted for any future projects and will de-identify when necessary.

16 | When will I be notified if my application wins an award?

The primary and secondary contacts listed in the application will be notified on or about July 17, 2020.

17 | When is the awards ceremony?

The awards ceremony will be held on Monday, October 5, 2020 during our annual fall conference (Workforce Strategy 2020) to be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, TN.

18 | What is the length of recognition?

For the Global Distinction award, recognition lasts for three years. The domestic award's recognition lasts for one year and applicants must re-apply every year.

19 | How can I obtain a copy of a previous year's application that my company submitted?

Email bestemployers@businessgrouphealth.org to obtain a previous year's application.

Email bestemployers@businessgrouphealth.org for all other questions.