McLean & Company has announced the launch of its 2026 Awards & Recognition Program, designed to recognize HR leaders and organizations demonstrating measurable impact through employee listening, strategic alignment, and effective HR governance.
The new program is built around McLean & Company’s research-backed diagnostics and aims to formally recognize organizations that successfully transform employee and organizational insights into meaningful HR outcomes.
McLean & Company stated that the new recognition initiative is designed to highlight organizations using structured HR diagnostics and employee feedback programs to improve workforce outcomes and business performance.
The program focuses on organizations that not only collect employee insights but also demonstrate the ability to translate those insights into actionable HR strategies and measurable operational improvements.
“With the launch of the McLean & Company Awards & Recognition Program, we wanted to create a credible way to recognize organizations that are using insight to move HR forward,” said Laura Hansen-Kohls, vice president of Diagnostics, Advisory, and Data Insights at McLean & Company. “Our aim is to celebrate teams that listen in a structured way, act on what they learn, and deliver meaningful results for their people and the business.”
The 2026 Awards & Recognition Program includes one verification badge and three award categories tied to McLean & Company’s diagnostic offerings.
The Verified Employee Listening Badge is awarded to organizations that complete McLean & Company’s Employee Engagement Program Diagnostic.
According to the company, the badge validates an organization’s structured and research-backed approach to gathering and acting on employee feedback.
This category recognizes organizations that effectively use employee feedback to improve engagement, employee experience, and organizational outcomes.
Eligibility requires completion of the Employee Engagement Program Diagnostic.
The HR Organizational Alignment Excellence Award honors organizations that successfully align HR strategy with broader business priorities to improve execution and operational effectiveness.
Participation in McLean & Company’s HR Organizational Alignment Diagnostic is required for eligibility.
This category recognizes organizations demonstrating strong governance structures, operational discipline, and decision-making clarity within HR operations.
Eligibility is tied to completion of the HR Management & Governance Diagnostic.
McLean & Company confirmed that the Awards & Recognition Program officially opens on May 15, 2026.
Organizations that complete eligible diagnostics between August 1, 2025, and July 15, 2026, will automatically be considered for applicable award categories.
Companies completing the Employee Engagement Program Diagnostic in 2026 will also qualify for the Verified Employee Listening Badge and become eligible for the Employee Listening Excellence Award.
The company stated that award finalists will be reviewed against category-specific evaluation criteria by the McLean & Company Awards Committee, which consists of members from the firm’s executive leadership team.
Finalists are expected to be notified throughout August and September, while winners will be announced during McLean Signature, the company’s annual HR conference taking place in Las Vegas from October 4–6, 2026.
McLean & Company said the program reflects the growing emphasis on evidence-based HR practices, employee engagement analytics, and governance frameworks across enterprise organizations.
The company aims to provide organizations with recognition that validates structured HR programs and demonstrates operational maturity in workforce management and people strategy.
McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm's member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership and HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.
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