Frequently Asked Questions
about Certified PeopleFirst™

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified PeopleFirst™ is a global workplace culture certification and employee engagement benchmark designed for organisations seeking credible, independent validation of their PeopleFirst culture.

Below are answers to common questions about the certification process, scoring, participation requirements and how it compares to traditional workplace accreditation programmes.

1. How is Certified PeopleFirst™ different from other workplace certifications?

Certified PeopleFirst™ is powered entirely by anonymous employee insight and measures intrinsic drivers of performance — belief, belonging and growth — rather than surface-level engagement metrics. It is designed as a modern, evidence-based standard for PeopleFirst cultures.

2. Why is measuring intrinsic rather than extrinsic factors so important?

Established research on intrinsic motivation (popularised by Daniel Pink in Drive) shows that Intrinsic motivation comes from internal drive – doing an activity for its inherent satisfaction and enjoyment. Extrinsic motivation comes from external factors like pay and benefits.  Intrinsic drives foster long-term passion, creativity and performance, whereas extrinsic factors are useful for short-term engagement or tasks lacking inherent interest.

Consequently, Certified PeopleFirst measures vital intrinsic factors like belief, belonging and personal growth against defined scoring thresholds. Certification is awarded only when those thresholds are met.

3. Is this just another employee engagement survey?

No. It is employee guaranteed proof that an organisation puts its people first. While Certified PeopleFirst™ uses a structured survey to gather employee insight, it is not just an engagement tool or internal feedback exercise.

It is an independent workplace culture certification. It provides benchmark scores for the belief snd belonging created by the organisation that can drive continuous improvement in the employee experience.  It is developed by the team behind the globally recognised Inspiring Workplaces Awards and shaped by insights from thousands of organisations over the past decade.

4. What score is required to achieve certification?

Certification is awarded at three levels:

• Silver – 70+ overall score

• Gold – 80+ overall score

• Platinum – 90+ overall score

Final scoring is based on Belief, Belonging and overall PeopleFirst metrics.

5. Is there a minimum response rate?

Yes. A minimum participation threshold is required to ensure integrity and representation of th employee audience. Certification cannot be awarded without sufficient employee participation. The threshold is 50% and above.

6. What happens if we don’t meet the benchmark?

You will still receive your full insight report and cultural analysis across the six key culture driver. This enables leadership to understand where they need to focus their improvement efforts. Many organisations use this as a powerful diagnostic before reapplying once improvements are made.

7. How long does the process take?

From survey launch to final report and certification outcome, the process is typically completed within three weeks.

8. Is employee feedback truly anonymous?

Yes. All responses are collected and analysed independently. Individual responses are never shared with employers.

9. Who is Certified PeopleFirst™ designed for?

As a global certification, Certified PeopleFirst is designed for organisations of all sizes, sectors and geographies who want credible, independent validation of their workplace culture and who are committed to building belief, belonging and personal growth at work.

10. How much does Certified PeopleFirst™ cost?

Investment varies depending on several factors, including:

• Total number of employees

• Number of countries and regions included

• Language requirements

• Additional reporting or deeper insight requirements

Because each organisation is different, pricing is provided upon request to ensure accuracy and fairness. We’re happy to share a tailored proposal following a short introductory conversation.

11. Do you operate globally?

Yes. Certified PeopleFirst™ is delivered globally across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and beyond.

We support multi-country organisations, regional assessments and full global certification programmes, including multi-language delivery where required.

12. Is there a deadline to complete certification each year?

Certified PeopleFirst™ operates on a rolling basis and is open year-round. Organisations can launch the certification at a time that aligns with their internal calendar and employee engagement cycles.

Certification is valid for 12 months from the date awarded and should be renewed annually.

13. How is achieving Certified PeopleFirst™ status recognised?

We provide logos, badges, certificates and a presence on our website, as well as announcements through old, new and social media.

Organisations completing certification ahead of regional Inspiring Workplaces Awards events may also be eligible for separate recognition at those events.