These categories recognize the achievements, since the beginning of 2024, of the providers of solutions that help to create and drive great places to work.

Nominations that won in the 2025 Stevie Awards for Great Employers may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2026 awards. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.

Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories in the 2026 competition include

1. Written answers to the following questions, describing the nominated achievements since January 1 2024, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length that answers all of the same questions:
a. If you are nominating a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If you are nominating a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released. If you are nominating an implementation, state the date on which the implementation was completed. Required
b. Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product, service, or implementation (up to 2,200 characters). Required
c. For the nomination of a product or service, outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable. (up to 2,200 characters). Required
d. Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters). Optional

2. Optional (but highly recommended), add to your entry up to 10 webpage links and/or document uploads to support your case to the judges. These might be press articles, press releases, videos, work samples, internal or external reviews, or employee feedback, for example.

D01. AI and People Analytics Provider of the Year (New Category for 2026)
Recognizing the achievements of providers of artificial intelligence based HR and people analytics solutions that deliver insight, prediction and decision support for workforce and talent strategies.

D02. Business Acumen & HR Strategy Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers to the industry of solutions for diversity services, management consulting, outplacement, outsourcing, and relocation, among others.

D03. Employee Relations Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers to the industry of solutions for arbitration/mediation/dispute resolution, awards and motivation, employee engagement, performance appraisal and management, and employee surveys, among others.

D04. Global HR Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers to the industry of solutions for cultural awareness/cultural competence, global employment law, global outsourcing, and global relocation, among others.

D05. Health, Wellness and Safety Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers to the industry of solutions for drug and alcohol treatment or testing, health promotion, recreation, safety, security, or wellness, among others.

D06. HR Technology Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers to the industry of solutions for human resources-related systems, software or analytics.

D07. Leadership or Skills Development Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers in the industry of solutions for assessment tools, certificate programs, distance learning, leadership development, or training materials, among others.

D08. Talent Acquisition & Retention Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers in the industry of solutions for applicant assessment or tracking, background investigations, executive search, recruitment, recruitment advertising, or temporary staffing, among others.

D09. Total Rewards Solution Provider of the Year
Recognizing the achievements of providers in the industry of solutions for child or dependent care, insurance, pensions/retirement benefits, and wage and salary administration, among others.