McLean & Company
Awards & Recognition
Celebrating Organizations That Turn Insight Into Impact
McLean & Company’s Awards & Recognition programs celebrate organizations that are raising the bar through meaningful workplace measurement and impact. Each year, we recognize the teams that transform insight into action, demonstrate measurable HR excellence, and drive lasting organizational success.
Two Levels of Recognition
McLean & Company Verified
Employee Listening Badge
This designation celebrates organizations that measure what matters. Earned annually, it's a public mark of ongoing commitment to understanding the employee experience and the accountability that comes with it.
Get Verified
McLean & Company
Excellence Awards
These awards honor organizations that are committed to measuring their own effectiveness. These designations signal strategic alignment, sound governance, and a commitment to continuous improvement – from the inside out.
Explore AwardsThe foundation
McLean & Company Diagnostics
Our diagnostics provide the research-backed insight that powers both the Verified Employee Listening Badge and Excellence Award recognition by guiding organizations toward stronger people, culture, and HR practices.
Completing one of these eligible diagnostics is the first step toward earning recognition.
Employee Engagement Diagnostic
Identify what drives engagement and pinpoint priority areas through a structured, research-backed listening approach.
Start DiagnosticAward eligible
Badge eligible
HR Organizational Alignment Diagnostic
Clarify HR strategy, structure, and roles to improve alignment with business needs and strengthen partnership.
Start DiagnosticAward eligible
HR Management & Governance Diagnostic
Improve HR governance, decision clarity, and operational consistency through stronger oversight and structure.
Start DiagnosticAward eligible
Not sure which diagnostic to start with?
Get in touch with your account manager to map out the best path forward.
Start Your Path to RecognitionRecognition Level
Verified Employee Listening Badge
Recognizing organizations that lead with listening and uncover insights grounded in research-backed diagnostics.
This annual designation signals a disciplined commitment to understanding the employee experience and making evidence-based people decisions.
Why it Matters
Research-Backed Measurement
Demonstrates completion of a diagnostic and a disciplined approach to workplace insight.
Evidence-Based Leadership
Signals that employee feedback informs leadership priorities and people decisions.
Transparency & Accountability
Reflects a visible commitment to listening intentionally and measuring what matters.
Talent Attraction & Retention
Demonstrates to candidates that your organization listens to employees and takes their experience seriously.
How to Earn Your Badge
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1
Complete the Employee Engagement Program diagnostic.
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2
McLean & Company confirms the diagnostic status and awards the badge.
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3
Access the media kit and share the news.
Verification is tied to the calendar year in which the Employee Engagement diagnostic was completed.
Organizations earning verification are automatically eligible to be considered for the Employee Listening Excellence Award.
Ready to Get Verified?
Connect with a McLean & Company advisor to identify the right diagnostics, plan your measurement approach, and understand how your organization can qualify for the Verified Employee Listening Badge.
Book a CallRecognition Level
McLean & Company Excellence Awards
Recognizing the highest standard of HR Practice.
The McLean & Company Excellence Awards celebrate organizations that turn insight into action and demonstrate meaningful, measurable progress. Grounded in our research‑backed diagnostics, these awards recognize leaders and teams who elevate HR maturity, strengthen people practices, and create lasting organizational impact.
Earning a McLean & Company Excellence Award signifies that an organization is acting with purpose, leading with evidence, and setting a benchmark for HR excellence.
2026 Award Categories
Employee Listening
McLean & Company Excellence Award
Recognizes organizations that act decisively on insights from employee listening diagnostics to drive sustained improvement.
Eligible for award by completing
Employee Engagement Program Diagnostic
HR Organizational Alignment
McLean & Company Excellence Award
Recognizes HR functions that align their priorities, structure, and partnerships to the needs of the business, grounding strategic decisions in data and operating as a trusted partner, not a support function.
Eligible for award by completing
HR Organizational Alignment Diagnostic
HR Management & Governance
McLean & Company Excellence Award
Recognizes organizations that leverage diagnostic insight to evaluate HR team alignment, effectiveness, and accountability and strengthen HR's ability to support organizational goals.
Eligible for award by completing
HR Management & Governance DiagnosticWhy it Matters
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Showcase your organization’s leadership
Demonstrate how your HR team uses feedback and data to strengthen people practices and create meaningful impact.
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Elevate your employer and HR brand
Award recognition is featured across McLean & Company’s digital channels, at McLean Signature, and in external promotional materials.
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Amplify your story
Winners receive a media kit that includes social assets, messaging, and visual elements to highlight their achievement internally and externally.
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Celebrate your recognition
Winners are recognized at McLean Signature and receive an award signifying excellence in HR leadership.
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Access future opportunities
Award recipients may be invited to participate in case studies, spotlight features, and McLean & Company events to further elevate their employer brand.
Eligible diagnostics must be completed by
July 15, 2026
There is no application required. Completion of an eligible diagnostic and demonstration of impact automatically qualifies organizations for consideration.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for a 2026 McLean & Company Excellence Award, organizations must:
- 1
Be an active McLean & Company member.
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2
Complete one of the below eligible McLean diagnostics within the 2026 program window:
- 3
Demonstrate insight-informed actions or improvements following diagnostic results.
Selection Process
- 1
McLean & Company reviews diagnostic results, evidence of action, and impact indicators across multiple evaluation dimensions.
- 2
Additional context such as clarity of action plans, leadership accountability, and sustainability of practices may also be considered.
- 3
Finalists may be invited to share brief supporting information during the evaluation review.
- 4
Winners will be notified and formally recognized at McLean Signature 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
These programs celebrate organizations that use research-backed HR diagnostics to measure workplace experience and strengthen people practices. Recognition is offered at two levels:
- McLean & Company Verified Employee Listening Badge, confirming participation in structured employee listening diagnostics.
- McLean & Company Excellence Awards, recognizing organizations that translate diagnostic insight into measurable HR impact.
Organizations earn the recognition by completing the Employee Engagement Program.
Once completion is confirmed, McLean & Company issues the Verified Employee Listening Badge for that year.
Eligible McLean & Company diagnostics include:
The Verified Employee Listening Badge verifies participation in structured employee listening practices.
The McLean & Company HR Excellence Awards recognizes the most exceptional candidates and how they used insights from McLean & Company diagnostics to strengthen employee listening, HR alignment, or HR operations.
Participation signals that your organization takes employee listening and HR excellence seriously. Recognition reinforces credibility, strengthens reputation, and creates meaningful recognition moments internally and externally.
No. In 2026, awards are diagnostic-led. Eligible organizations are identified based on completion of relevant McLean & Company diagnostics. Finalists may be required to provide additional information about how they used data from the respective diagnostic to make an impact within their organization.
McLean & Company diagnostics are research-backed surveys that help organizations assess areas such as the employee lifecycle, HR strategy alignment, and HR governance.
Yes. Recognition is tied to participation in McLean & Company diagnostics.
If you’re not yet a member, you can connect with a McLean & Company advisor to explore membership and determine the right diagnostic for your organization.
Speak With an AdvisorFinalists and winners are selected through a structured, human-led evaluation process that considers insight, action, and sustained practices.
Finalists will be notified directly by the McLean & Company team and announced publicly through McLean & Company channels. Winners will be announced live at McLean Signature. Winners who are not onsite will be notified directly by the McLean & Company team.
Yes. Organizations that complete the Employee Engagement Program are automatically eligible for consideration in the Employee Listening Excellence Award category. Eligibility does not guarantee selection.
Yes. McLean does not publicly disclose diagnostic data without your consent. Evaluation focuses on insight, action, and improvement, not publicly shared diagnostic scores.
Your McLean & Company advisor can help you identify the right diagnostic based on your organization's priorities, HR maturity, and recognition goals.
Speak With an AdvisorReady to be recognized?
Speak with a McLean & Company advisor to find the diagnostic that’s right for your organization and start your path to recognition.
Book a Call