Frequently Asked
Questions

The first step is to complete the online company profile and application. Once completed in its entirety, your application will be submitted for review to a member of the Most Loved Workplace team to verify.

You will receive a URL in your account dashboard for your Love of Workplace Index™ Pulse Validation survey to distribute to your employees.

A minimum of 33% or 1,000 employees must complete the Pulse Validation to be eligible for certification. Upon completion, the Most Loved Workplace® team will review the complete certification application. You will receive a decision within two weeks of the final submission.

The Love of Workplace Index® is a highly valuable and validated assessment that is fast, and easy to use. The pulse validation measures the degree of love employees have for your company. It measures your levels of collaboration; how positive workers feel about their future at the company; how much employee values align with employer values; respect at all levels; and career achievement. The Love of Workplace Index® pulse validation takes employees between 3-4 minutes to complete and is a prerequisite of certification.

We require a minimum of 33% of employees for companies with less than 3,000 employees or a minimum of 1,000 for companies with 3,000 or more employees must respond to the survey.

The answers are collected either anonymously or confidentially by Best Practice Institute, at the direction of the applying company, and not shared with any third parties or partners. The survey responses will be seen only by Best Practice Institute staff to make certification decisions. All final benchmarking reports use aggregated data not attributed to any specific company.

Companies can purchase access to their results in a benchmarked detailed report if they choose for an additional fee. Contact us for more information about data security or purchasing access to your company’s responses and analyzed data.

No.

Yes.

What criteria are used to determine inclusion in partner lists such as Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® and others?

Inclusion in partner lists, such as Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces®, and others, is based on a comprehensive evaluation of companies that prioritize respect, caring, and appreciation for employees as central to their business model. The process is conducted in collaboration with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), which utilizes extensive research to assess management practices that drive employee motivation, satisfaction, and performance. In addition to the quantitative and qualitative analysis of your company’s Love of Workplace Index® survey results, the evaluation includes the following criteria:

• • Innovativeness of Programs: Assessing how creative and impactful the company’s employee programs are.
• Reported Data to Employees: Confirming if employees are informed about workplace insights and performance data.
• • Action Planning: Gauging a company’s commitment to implementing actionable insights from survey data.
• • Use of Assets: Reviewing how effectively the company has incorporated MLW branding, badges, and awards into their employer branding strategies.

Additionally, BPI collects survey data from employees and interviews company officials to assess key dimensions such as:

• • Collaboration: The level of teamwork and systemic collaboration within the organization.
• • Positive Vision for the Future: Employee optimism and confidence in their future at the company.
• • Alignment of Values: How well employer and employee values align.
• • Respect: Respect shown at all levels of the organization.
• • Career Achievement: Opportunities for employee growth and accomplishment.

These metrics ensure that the rankings reflect companies that excel in fostering an exceptional workplace culture and employee experience.

Best Practice Institute, Inc. owns the registered trademark and copyright to the Most Loved Workplaces® brand and the Love of Workplace Index™. Most Loved Workplace® is a registered trademark filed and patented by the U.S. Trademarks and Patents Office by Best Practice Institute, Inc.

The SPARK Index averages the five key areas – 1. Systemic Collaboration, 2. Positive Vision for the Future, 3. Alignment of Values, 4. Respect, and 5. Killer Achievement. The Love of Workplace Index™ goes deeper to incorporate data related to questions regarding emotions for different levels of your organization.

Here is the full list of deadlines and release dates for the 2025 Most Loved Workplaces® awards and certifications. Deadlines are set for the end of the month, two months prior to the list release.

January 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Career Advancement

• • Theme: National Mentoring Month
• • Application Deadline: November 30, 2024
• • List Release: January 2025

February 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Diversity

• • Theme: Black History Month
• • Application Deadline: December 31, 2024
• • List Release: February 2025

March 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Women

• • Theme: Top Global Most Loved Workplaces®
• • Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
• • List Release: March 2025

April 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Neurodiversity

• • Theme: World Autism Awareness Day
• • Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
• • List Release: April 2025

May 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Wellness/Mental Health

• • Theme: Mental Health Awareness Month
• • Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
• • List Release: May 2025

June 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for LGBTQ+

• • Theme: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
• • Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
• • List Release: June 2025

July 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Young Professionals

• • Theme: Celebrate Young Professionals
• • Application Deadline: May 31, 2025
• • List Release: July 2025

August 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Wellness

• • Theme: National Wellness Month
• • Application Deadline: June 30, 2025
• • List Release: August 2025

September 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Parents & Caregivers

• • Theme: National Working Parents Day
• • Application Deadline: July 31, 2025
• • List Release: September 2025

October 2025: Most Loved CEOs

• • Theme: America’s Top MLW
• • Application Deadline: August 31, 2025
• • List Release: October 2025

November 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Veterans

• • Theme: UK’s Top MLW
• • Application Deadline: September 30, 2025
• • List Release: November 2025

December 2025: Most Loved Workplaces® for Volunteering

• • Theme: International Volunteer Day
• • Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
• • List Release: December 2025

Key Deadlines for Partner Lists

• Top Global Most Loved Workplaces®
  • • • Deadline: March 31, 2025
  • • Release: May 2025

America’s Top Most Loved Workplaces®

• • • Deadline: May 31, 2025
  • • Release: September/October 2025

UK’s Top Most Loved Workplaces®

• • • Deadline: July 15, 2025
  • • Release: November 2025

Excellence 1000 Index

• • • Deadline: November 30, 2025
  • • Release: November 2025

Your certification is valid for 12 months, and you only have get certified once to qualify for all lists. Don’t miss any opportunities to highlight your employer brand and secure a spot on the Most Loved Workplaces® lists. Reach out to us with any questions or need any assistance with your application!

A Most Loved Workplace® is an organization where employees feel deeply valued, respected, and engaged. These workplaces prioritize emotional and mental well-being, foster a supportive and inclusive culture, and align organizational goals with employee satisfaction. Our certification is backed by rigorous research and focuses on creating environments where employees can thrive. Companies that treat employees well and prioritize integrity in the workplace are often recognized as Most Loved Workplaces®.

To get certified, you need to undergo our assessment process, which evaluates your workplace across various parameters, including employee sentiment, emotional well-being, and alignment with our proprietary “love” metrics. You can start the process by registering your company on our registration page.

Certified companies enjoy enhanced employee retention, a larger pool of candidates, improved performance, and a stronger employer brand. Certification helps attract top talent and demonstrates your commitment to creating a supportive and engaging work environment. It also places you among the top companies to work for, enhancing your reputation.

The certification process typically takes 4-6 weeks from the time you submit your initial application to receiving the certification. This includes time for employee surveys, data analysis, and review by our team of experts.

We use a combination of employee surveys, sentiment analysis, and organizational data to evaluate criteria such as leadership effectiveness, workplace integrity, recognition systems, and overall employee satisfaction. Our methodology is based on the research of top organizational psychologists and our proprietary “love” metrics.

Yes, companies of all sizes can apply for certification. Our assessment process is tailored to account for the unique dynamics and challenges faced by organizations of different sizes. Integrity at work and honesty in the workplace are key factors we assess.

Certification is valid for one year. We recommend starting the renewal process at least two months before your certification expires to ensure continuity and address any areas for improvement.

Our certification is unique because it focuses specifically on emotional and mental well-being, and measurement of an employees love for the company, using sentiment and emotion analytics. Our methodology is based on over 25 years of research and collaboration with top organizational psychologists, ensuring high validity and reliability. We also highlight examples of integrity and provide detailed performance analysis.

Our team provides comprehensive support throughout the certification process, including access to our extensive resources, guidance from our experts, and a detailed action planning feature related to our 220+ skills library to help you improve your workplace environment. We also provide tools for workplace analytics to help you track progress.

With one of our paid premium plans, if your company does not initially qualify for certification, we provide detailed feedback and recommendations to help you improve. You can reapply for certification and take the pulse again once you have addressed the suggested areas for improvement. This is only available with one of the premium paid plans.

Integrity in the workplace involves honesty, ethical behavior, and maintaining strong moral principles. It includes being transparent with employees, treating everyone with respect, and consistently demonstrating the company’s values. Check out our article on examples of integrity in the workplace for more insights.

Employee recognition surveys help gauge how valued and appreciated employees feel. They provide insights into what the company is doing well and areas where improvement is needed. For more information, read our guide on employee recognition survey questions.