Each year, the Ragan Employee Communication Awards recognizes the top professionals in employee communications. The pandemic demonstrated more than ever how internal communication is vital to business success. Employee communication became the primary vehicle to share critical job information, company updates and promote crucial team comradery during a time of physical distancing.
We at Firstup are proud to support these best-in-class internal communicators as they excel in creating exceptional communication campaigns that keep their workforce — remote and in-person — engaged and informed during unprecedented times. We’re excited to see so many Firstup customers as winners and honorable mentions across more than a dozen categories!
Grand Prize
Employee Communications Team of the Year
Ford Motor Company
Ford team battles COVID-19 with virus-related communications
The company’s 12-member employee communications team reached out to hundreds of thousands of employees and retirees with a ‘hive’ approach, winning a Grand Prize for ‘Employee Communications Team of the Year’ in Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
Winners
Employee Engagement & Virtual Employee Engagement Categories
Southern Company Gas | FUEL – Employee Engagement Reimagined
Adding FUEL to the employee experience
Southern Company Gas put together a new mobile app for employees, driving adoption with a digital café launch and giveaways. It’s earned the company the award in the ‘Employee Engagement’ Category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards as well as in the ‘Virtual Employee Engagement’ category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
Instructional or Education Content (intranet)
Ford Motor Company | COVID Communications
Ford Motor Company taps video, town halls to guide employees through the COVID crisis
The automaker has leaned on instructional videos and candid global town halls to keep workers engaged during the pandemic—landing a well-earned win in the Instructional or Educational Content (Intranet) category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
Rebranding campaign
Bristol Meyers Squibb | Rebrand Campaign
Pharmaceutical company launches rebrand in the midst of a pandemic
Bristol Myers Squibb wanted to show off its new identity, and it didn’t let COVID-19 get in the way. It wins the ‘Rebranding Campaign’ category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
Return to Workplace Communications
ADM | COVID-19 Rapid Response Communications
Two-phase program kept agribusiness employees informed and safe
ADM sought to maintain continuity while communicating important health and safety news to its worldwide workforce. It’s won the prize in the ‘Return to Workplace Communication’ category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
Virtual Events & Celebrations
Bristol Myers Squibb | Global Patient Week
Global Patient Week remains essential part of Bristol Myers’ culture as virtual event
Bristol Myers Squibb’s longstanding Global Patient Week event faced the challenge of bringing people together in the midst of the pandemic. Meeting that challenge has earned the company an award in the ‘Virtual Events/Celebrations’ category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
In addition, Bristol Myers Squibb wanted to show off its new identity, and it didn’t let COVID-19 get in the way. It wins the ‘Rebranding Campaign’ category of Ragan’s 2021 Employee Communications Awards.
Honorable Mentions
Best Employee App | Love’s Travel Stops Southern Company Gas Fuel |
Change Communications | Ford Motor Company |
COVID-19 Communication (Government/Nonprofit) | Atrium Health |
COVID-19 Communication (Corporate) | ADM Extreme Networks Ford Motor Company |
Employee Engagement | Bristol Myers Squibb |
Feature Article | Ford Motor Company |
Informational Video | Atrium Health |
Instructional or Educational Content (intranet) | Ford Motor Company |
Internal Event Strategy | Bristol Myers Squibb |
Intranet Launch/Relaunch | Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store |
Virtual Employee Engagement | Ford Motor Company |
Virtual Town Hall | Ford Motor Company |
Grand Prize – Employee Communication Campaign of the Year | Bristol Myers Squibb |
Congratulations to all of these outstanding companies who worked to keep employees inspired during these difficult times and champion diverse workplaces while delivering unique and powerful brand stories.