SelectCobb Events
The Employer Excellence Certification Program celebrates and supports Cobb County businesses that go above and beyond in fostering a positive, supportive, and engaging workplace. This initiative recognizes organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to employee well-being, engagement, and long-term retention through innovative and inclusive workplace practices.
By receiving this certification, businesses signal to current and prospective employees that they prioritize people, cultivate belonging, and actively invest in creating environments where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.
The Employer Excellence Certification program recognizing businesses that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to employee well-being, engagement and long-term retention.
On March 30, applications open and businesses are invited to submit information on workplace flexibility, employee engagement and development, employee benefit packages, workplace safety and more. Once the application window closes on May 22, applications are reviewed and scored by a committee of human resources professionals.
Based on committee scoring, applicants with 10 or more full-time employees will earn a Gold, Silver or Bronze Employer Excellence Certification.
Businesses with 2–9 full-time employees are evaluated within a micro-business-focused framework that accounts for scale, resources, and organizational structure. Should these businesses meet the scoring threshold, they will be awarded an Employer on the Rise Certification. This is a singular certification based on meeting scoring requirements and not categorized into Gold, Silver, or Bronze Categories.
Each certified business will be announced at the Economic Development Summit on Aug. 26 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Certified businesses will each receive a media toolkit, including digital badges, press release templates and other items to help promote their certified status.
Program standards, application grading, scoring criteria, and oversight are guided by the Employer Excellence Certification Committee made up of subject-matter experts in HR, workforce development, business leadership, and organizational culture. The committee will provide a scorecard with feedback to applicants with areas for improvement.
SHRM SCP
SHRM SCP, PHR
SHRM SCP
Certified businesses stand out as employers of choice. In a competitive job market, candidates are drawn to organizations that have been recognized for treating their employees well. Certification demonstrates that a company not only values its workforce but also follows through with meaningful programs and policies designed to enhance satisfaction, work-life balance, and professional growth. This can reduce turnover and attract high-quality talent eager to work for an employer with proven employee-centered values.
By highlighting a company’s commitment to employee retention and workplace excellence, certification helps businesses connect with a larger pool of qualified and motivated candidates. Job seekers increasingly seek workplaces that align with their values—places that promote inclusion, mental health, flexibility, and growth. Being publicly recognized as an employee-friendly organization strengthens your employer brand, making recruitment more efficient and effective.
Certified businesses will receive constructive feedback from a committee of established HR professionals to determine areas of improvement and provide potential solutions and resources.
Recognition through certification boosts pride among existing employees, reinforcing that their contributions are valued and their well-being matters. This sense of acknowledgment can increase engagement and build loyalty—key factors that drive higher productivity, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
Employee-friendly certifications serve as a visible symbol of a company’s dedication to its people, enhancing both internal culture and external reputation. When employees feel respected and supported, they become ambassadors for the organization, sharing their positive experiences within the community—amplifying the company brand organically.
Certified businesses become part of a network of like-minded employers committed to excellence in workplace culture. This opens opportunities for collaboration, idea-sharing, and community recognition, fostering a sense of shared purpose across the local business ecosystem.
Any business in the metro Atlanta area with at least two (2) full-time employees is eligible to apply.
March 30: Applications Open
May 22: Application Deadline
Aug. 26: Employer Excellence Certified Businesses are Announced
To apply, businesses should submit the completed application along with the required application fee. Application fees are as follows:
After the application has been submitted, the annual certification fee will be determined based on the number of full-time employees.
2-9 Employees: $200
10-15 Employees: $250
16-25 Employees: $300
26-50 Employees: $400
51-100 Employees: $500
101-500 Employees: $600
501+ Employees: $700
Please note: Employee thresholds are based on full-time employees to ensure consistency across applicants. However, the application also evaluates how employers support part-time and contract employees.
A certificate must be renewed every 3 years to remain valid. The renewal process requires updating prior workplace information, as well as a $65 renewal fee. At each renewal, a workplace will be re-scored, and their certification level will reflect the corresponding level (Gold, Silver, Bronze).
770-859-2353
© 2026 Cobb Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
