Following is an overview of the award process - from the initial nomination or self-nomination of a company to the event in September when the awards are bestowed.

A company may be nominated to enter the RBEA by a customer, client, employee, consultant, vendor, or any other person who believes that the company conducts business in a highly ethical manner. In addition, any company may nominate itself - this is a perfectly appropriate way to get involved. To nominate an eligible company, please go to our Nominate a Company page.

Once nominated, companies  receive additional information on the awards process and details on the award entry form and its requirements. The RBEA steering committee points to a number of benefits  that companies realize - in profits, in process and in public recognition -  when they prepare an entry.

Once completed and submitted in May, award entry forms and supporting material are evaluated by an independent panel of judges composed of individuals with an expertise in business ethics and who are drawn from the business, academic, public service, media, and consulting communities.

The judges evaluate the companies on documented evidence of the integrity of their corporate “code of ethics,” as well as a clear demonstration of the company’s commitment to ethical business practices through management and employee behavior. The judging criteria are stringent, and the result is an award that is  coveted.

An award in each category will be announced in the fall at our Gala Awards Luncheon in mid September. The crystal statue presented to the award recipients signifies the roots of ethics in the ancient world, strong ethical foundations, aspirations to high standards of business conduct, and the multifaceted nature of ethics in our daily lives.