Membership
Program
Membership
Program

Incorporate CHO concepts

CHO Appreciation Award 2023

ABOUT CHOA

The Chief Happiness Officer Association Limited (CHOA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2021 with the mission to build a platform for all stakeholders to co-create a happy and healthy workplace environment, thus advancing corporate culture excellence in Hong Kong. 

According to the United Nations’ Annual World Happiness Report released in 2023, Hong Kong ranked 82th among 137 countries and cities. In a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong, mental wellbeing is crucial for sustaining its thriving energy. We believe that there are systematic ways to pursue happiness and everyone deserves having a happy life. 

CHOA believes that corporations can lead the CHO movement by transforming and re-energizing organizational culture. Not only can employees develop happiness driven performance if they are well supported, but their workplace happiness can also benefit their families and the community. 

ABOUT THE AWARD

1. INTRODUCTION

Today, our world prioritizes mental health and happiness inside and outside of the work. Employees expect to work in a workplace that is well supported. Employees’ job satisfaction, their wellbeing and workplace happiness become more important than ever before in sustaining the future of work. Employee happiness is the key that generates profitable operations for organizations and is rapidly becoming a development trend across industries, organizations and cultural contexts. 

Since 2021, CHOA is proud to present the “CHO Appreciation Award” to honor, award and collaborate with organizations that have shown tremendous effort in demonstrating CHO practices. This year the award will focus on 3 key areas: Corporate Wellness, People & Organizational Transformation and Oneness Team. As the 2023 CHO Appreciation Award starts to invite organizations to join this event, CHOA continues to work tirelessly to advance corporate culture excellence in Hong Kong.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE AWARD

  • To honor, award and collaborate with organizations and their people development teams for their tremendous effort in driving employee wellbeing and happiness in their corporate culture.
  • To promote psychological wellness and workplace happiness awareness in the organizations.
  • To promote talent sustainability and unleash power for transformation in psychological wellness and work environment in the business sector. 
  • To establish an active exchange of best practices among the awardees and the community.

3. BENEFITS TO ORGANIZATIONS

  • To cement the credibility and public recognition of the organization in the business community. 
  • To enhance the employer branding and reputation of the organization through showcasing their best practices.
  • To recognize the achievements of your employees and boost the moral as well as motivation.
  • To validate your hiring strategy and attract the potential talents joining your organization.

4. AWARD CATEGORIES

4.1 Company Awards

  • Organizations with over 50 employees can apply for the Company Awards, Special Awards and compete for The Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For. 
  • The organizations that can demonstrate the CHO practice in 3 key areas: Corporate Wellness, People & Organizational Transformation, and Oneness Team.  
  • Corporate Wellness emphasizes on psychological wellbeing for employees and demonstrates the positive impact to employees’ satisfaction and retention, and the operation cost in the long run.
  • People & Organizational Transformation emphasizes on organization driving significant and sustainable changes in business process to optimize the organization’s human capital, enhance employee engagement and happiness level, and adapt to evolving business needs.  
  • Oneness Team emphasizes on creating the happiest culture for the employees and putting tremendous effort in talent attraction and retention. 
  • Organizations that achieve a total score that exceeds 70% will be granted the Company Awards. 

4.2 Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For

  • Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For serves as the Grand Award of the Year. 
  • It serves to recognize the most outstanding organizations that create a happy and healthy workplace with unique and extraordinary showcases, and act as a role model in Hong Kong. 
  • The organization that can demonstrate its strength in employee engagement & experience, digital transformation, people transformation, psychological wellness and innovation in building happiness culture. 
  • It will be granted to the organizations that attain top 10 highest score under the Company Awards.

4.3 Special Awards

A number of Special Awards will also be granted to the organizations with outstanding showcases in different individual areas. Organizations have to indicate which of the following Special Award(s) they would like to compete for in the Enrollment Form. Each organization can enroll up to 2 Special Awards. 

The details of Special Awards are as below:    

  • CHO Do Good Award – recognizes organization doing extremely good on its employee engagement and experience strategy. These strategies that can demonstrate the positive and sustainable impact to employee, organization and society. 
  • CHO Digital Transformation Award – recognizes organization adopting technology and digital solutions to enhance employees’ satisfaction and happiness level. The new implementation that can demonstrate the fundamental changes to business process and efficiency improvement. 
  • CHO Best Innovative Culture Award – recognizes organization providing innovative strategy to create the happiest culture for the employees. These strategies that can demonstrate innovation in their concept, design and implementation for a successful culture shift. 
  • CHO People Transformation Award – recognizes organization empowering their employees’ capabilities and capacities to drive the business growth and organization’s future success. The initiatives that can demonstrate the positive impact to employees’ satisfaction and happiness level as well as the employer branding. 
  • CHO Team Performance Award – recognizes the contribution of a team demonstrating impact, growth and ownership in the organization. The team is capable to demonstrate their alignment in shared values and vision and work towards a common objective. 
  • CHO Employees Wellness Award – recognizes organization providing compelling strategy that includes psychological, financial and social wellness elements for employee. These strategies that can demonstrate the positive impact to employees’ satisfaction and retention, and the operation cost in the long run.
  • CHO Back to Normal Workplace Award – recognizes organization providing transitioning strategy that includes mental, physical, team collaboration, communication or cultural alignment for the post-COVID workplace. These strategies that can fully support employees to resume to new normal.

4.4 Individual Award

An Individual Award will be granted to the candidate that can demonstrate unmatched tenacity and dedication to happiness in the organization as well as the community. Each organization can enroll up to 2 candidates to compete for the Individual Award.

The details of Individual Award are as below:

    • CHO Champion Award – recognizes the contribution of individual promoting happiness culture in their workplace. The candidate is an inspiring and positive influencer for bringing happiness in the organization as well as the community.

4.5 SME Awards

  • Organizations with less than 50 employees can apply for the SME Awards and compete for The Top 3 Happy SMEs to Work For.
  • The organizations that can demonstrate the CHO practice in 3 key areas: Corporate Wellness, People & Organizational Transformation, and Oneness Team.  
  • Corporate Wellness emphasizes on psychological well-being for employees and demonstrates the positive impact to employees’ satisfaction and retention, and the operation cost in the long run.
  • People & Organizational Transformation emphasizes on organization driving significant and sustainable changes in business process to optimize the organization’s human capital, enhance employee engagement and happiness level, and adapt to evolving business needs.  
  • Oneness Team emphasizes on creating the happiest culture for the employees and putting tremendous effort in talent attraction and retention. 
  • Organizations that achieve a total score exceeds 70% will be granted the SME Awards.

4.6 Top 3 Happy SMEs to Work For

  • Top 3 Happy SMEs to Work For serves as the Grand Award of the Year for SME. 
  • It serves to recognize the most outstanding SMEs that create a happy and healthy workplace with unique and extraordinary showcases, and act as a role model in Hong Kong. 
  • The SME that can demonstrate its strength in employee engagement & experience, digital transformation, people transformation, psychological wellness and innovation in building happiness culture. 
  • It will be granted to the SMEs that attain top 3 highest score under the SME Awards.

5. AWARD ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

     Chairperson
  • Mr. Ian Choy (Executive Director – Human Resources, Corporate Communications and Administration, Gammon Constructions Limited)
    Vice-Chairperson
  • Ms. Theresa Lui (Chief People Officer, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited)
     Committee Members
  • Ms. Hilary Chan (Head, Engagement & Inclusion, DFI Retail Group)
  • Ms. Sarah Cheuk (Human Resource Director, FANO Labs Limited)
  • Ms. Miko Cheung (Human Resources Director, LAWSGROUP)
  • Dr. Bessie Chong (Director, Group HR & Organizational Development, Esquel Group)
  • Ms. Adele Chu (Co-Owner & Director – Talent Engagement, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited)
  • Dr. Buston Chu (Executive Director, Service Cybernetics Consulting Limited)
  • Mr. Joe Lee (Manager, Learning & Organization Development, Bupa (Asia) Limited)
  • Mr. Tony Wu (Learning, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Director, AXA Greater China)

6. ELIGIBILITY

The Chief Happiness Officer Appreciation Award 2023 are open to organizations of any size or business nature in Hong Kong. The organizations are encouraged to share their existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events that are related to wellbeing and happiness culture in the application form. The examples should be implemented in the past 24 months (namely between 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2023) for their employees. 

7. AWARD SCHEDULE

Activities
Date
Deadline for Enrollment Form Submission
20 July 2023 
(Thursday)
Deadline for Happiness Index Survey & Written Paper Submission
24 August 2023
(Thursday)
Announcement for Top 20 Finalists
14 September 2023
(Thursday)
Final Presentation Seminar
19 October 2023
(Thursday)
Award Presentation Ceremony
 
22 November 2023
 (Wednesday)

8. PARTICIPATION FEE

  • Company Awards: $3,800 
  • Special Awards: $1,000 per Award 
  • Individual Award: $1,000 per Enrollment
  • SME Awards: $1,800
  • The participation fee covers ONE free seat at the Award Presentation Ceremony.
  • Promotion fee is applicable to the awardees for Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For, Top 3 Happy SMEs to Work For and Special Awards. The details will be shared after result announcement. 
  • Ticket fee and arrangement of Award Presentation Ceremony will be shared after result announcement. 
  • Participation fee for Company Award, Special Awards, Individual Award & SME Award can be settled on or before 24 August 2023 (Thursday) by the following methods: 

  1. Bank Transfer in HKD to

Bank 

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

Beneficiary

CHIEF HAPPINESS OFFICER ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Account No.

012-802-2-014680-8

Remarks

Please mark your account number / name on the pay slip & email the pay slip to: info@choassociation.org or WhatsApp @ 6263 6263

  1. By FPS

Bank 

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

FPS Identifier

100900554

Remarks

Please email the FPS record to : info@choassociation.org or WhatsApp @ 6263 6263

  1. By Cheque

Cheque payable to 

CHIEF HAPPINESS OFFICER ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Remarks

Please mail a crossed cheque to 

Flat 2112, 21/F, The Star, 18 Yip Shing Street, Kwai Chung, New Territories.

9. JUDGING PROCESS – COMPANY AWARD, SPECIAL AWARDS, INDIVIDUAL AWARD, & TOP 10 HAPPY COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Judging Process

Details

Part 1

Enrollment Form Submission

  • All interested organizations have to submit the enrollment form through [LINK] by 20 July 2023 (Thursday) to confirm the eligibility.
  • CHOA will confirm the enrollment in 3 working days.

Part 2

Happiness Index Surveys Submission

  • Participating organizations with 51 to 1000 employees have to submit 10% of their employees’ Happiness Index Survey by 24 August 2023 (Thursday).
  • Participating organizations with more than 1000 employees have to submit 5% of their employees’ Happiness Index Survey. 
  • Participating employees should come from at least 3 different departments and from different levels.
  • This part accounts for 30% of the total score.

Part 3

Written Paper
Submission

  • All participating organizations have to submit a written paper by 24 August 2023 (Thursday).
  • The paper should include the existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events that are related to wellbeing and happiness culture.
  • This part accounts for 20% of the total score.
  • Organizations that are interested in competing for other Special Awards and Individual Award have to submit related supplementary information.

Part 4

Final Presentation

  • Based on the Happiness Index Survey analysis and written paper submissions, 20 finalists as well as recipients of all the Special Awards will be confirmed by 14 September 2023 (Thursday). 
  • Finalists will be invited to give a 10-minute presentation in Cantonese / English and followed by a 5-minute Q&A session by the judging committee on 19 October 2023 (Thursday). 
  • Finalists may send a maximum of three representatives to conduct the presentation. 
  • The presentation mode includes but is not limited to PowerPoint presentation, storytelling and drama. 
  • This part accounts for 50% of the total score. 
  • Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For will be granted to the organizations that attain top 10 highest score.
Written Paper Submission Reference

10. JUDGING PROCESS – SME AWARD & TOP 3 HAPPY SMEs TO WORK FOR

Judging Process
Details
Part 1
Enrollment Form Submission
  • All interested SMEs have to submit the enrollment form through [LINK] by 20 July 2023 (Thursday) to confirm the eligibility
  • CHOA will confirm the enrollment by 3 working days.
Part 2
Happiness Index Survey Submission
  • Participating SMEs with 1 to 30 employees have to submit 50% of their employees’ Happiness Index Survey by 24 August 2023 (Thursday). 
  • Participating SMEs with 31 to 50 employees have to submit 30% of their employees’ Happiness Index Survey.
  • Participating employees should come from at least 3 different departments and from different levels. 
  • This part accounts for 50% of the total score.
Part 3
Written Paper Submission
  • All participating SMEs have to submit written paper by 24 August 2023 (Thursday).
  • The paper should include the evidence of being a happiness organization.
  • This part accounts for 50% of the total score.
  • Top 3 Happy SMEs to Work For will be granted to the SMEs that attain top 3 highest score.
Written Paper Submission Reference

11. JUDGING CRITERIA – HAPPINESS INDEX SURVEY & WRITTEN PAPER

  • The following criteria are taken into account in the selection of the awardees of Company Awards and SME Awards. Each key area is equally weighted towards the allocated percentage of total final score. The organizations that achieve 70% or above will be granted the Company / SME Awards. The criteria are listed below:
 
11.1 Corporate Wellness
      • The award recognizes organizations that emphasize psychological wellbeing for employees and demonstrates the positive impact to employees’ job satisfaction and retention, and the operation cost in the long run. 
      • Areas of consideration includes 
        1. Perceived Wellbeing 
        2. Experienced Workplace Happiness
        3. Affective Workplace Well-being in job competence and job aspiration
        4. Relational Wellbeing: the connection with the organization, supervisor and team
        5. Causation and Outcome of Workplace Happiness: psychological ownership, voice behavior, human flourishing and customer orientation
11.2 People & Organizational Transformation
      • The award recognizes organizations that emphasize on organization driving significant and sustainable changes in business process to optimize the organization’s human capital, enhance employee engagement and happiness level, and adapt to evolving business needs.
      • Areas of consideration includes 
        1. Creativity: Transformation projects, Inspirational activities
        2. Image: Quality of service, Aptitude of employees 
        3. Adaptability: System improvement, Policy enhancement
11.3 Oneness Team
      • The award recognizes organizations that emphasize on creating the happiest culture for the employees and putting tremendous effort in talent attraction and retention. 
      • Areas of consideration includes
        1. Purpose: VMV models, Mission driven activities
        2. Training: Training course, Mentoring program
        3. Culture: Cultural development, Cultural activities, Workforce diversity and inclusion
        4. Internal Market Orientation: Internal Information Generation, Internal Communication and Responsiveness to Information
        5. Supervisory Trust & Perceived Organizational Support

12. JUDGING CRITERIA – FINAL PRESENTATION

  • The following criteria are taken into account in the selection of the awardees of Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For. The organizations that achieve the highest score will be granted Top 10 Happy Companies to Work For. The criteria are listed below: 
12.1 Objective Setting 15%
      • The organization demonstrated a clear objective and expected goals. 
      • The objectives addressed specific organizational / people challenges.
12.2 Implementation Process 30%
      • The existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events were designed with relevant content to meet the expected goals. 
      • The existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events were effectively implemented.
      • Employees and different teams were actively involved in the process.
12.3 Achievement & Outcome 30%
      • The quantifiable and psychological outcome were obtained and evaluated.  
      • The existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events were achieved the stated objectives and demonstrated sustainable outcomes. 
12.4 Innovation and Uniqueness 15%
      • The existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events were innovative in its concept, idea, policy, design, and implementation. 
      • The existing HR policies, practices, systems or recent events were enabled the organization to stand out from the business community.  
12.5 Ability to create interaction and happiness with audience 10%
      • The organization’s representatives demonstrated the ability to connect with the audience. 
      • The organization’s representatives demonstrated the workplace happiness to the audience effectively.    

13 ENQUIRIES

Ms. Mary Suen, mary@choassociation.org at 9608 8888

Ms. Veronica Li, veronica@choassociation.org at 6263 6263

CHOA Website https://choassociation.org/zh-hant/

 

Application Form Download
Online Application
Award Brochure