Stage 6
The controlled certification decision
A certification decision is never automatic and never commercial. It is taken by the WWEC Certification Decision Panel, on the record, after independent review, using the assessment result and the evidence review — not the assessor's opinion and not the organisation's intent.
Decision inputs
Three inputs, reviewed together.
The decision file brings the assessment result, the evidence review and the employee experience evidence into one record so alignment — or the absence of it — is visible.
- STEP 01
Assessment result
Dimension-level results across the eight Excellence Dimensions, with the scoring record and any conditions or gaps raised during assessment.
- STEP 02
Evidence review
The completeness, authenticity and currency of submitted evidence — policies, records, governance minutes and operating practice — reviewed against the published requirements.
- STEP 03
Employee experience alignment
Anonymised employee experience findings compared with organisational intent and documented workplace reality, using the WWEC Workplace Excellence Truth Map™ views.
Decision rules
What a decision-maker must confirm.
| Check | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Scope integrity | The certified scope matches the entities, sites and workforce populations actually assessed. |
| Evidence sufficiency | Every requirement is supported by current, verifiable evidence, not by declaration alone. |
| Alignment | Organisational intent, workplace reality and employee experience are consistent within the assessed scope. |
| Independence | No assessor or reviewer with a declared conflict of interest took part in the decision. |
| Certification rule | Overall score at least 70/100, every one of the eight dimensions at least 50/100, and all applicable Mandatory Requirements satisfied. |
| Employee Experience | The approved minimum valid-response requirement for the eligible workforce in scope is met. |
Outcomes
Three possible decisions.
Each outcome is recorded with reasons, is communicated to the authorised representative and may be appealed within 15 days.
- STEP 01
Certification awarded
All applicable certification requirements are satisfied within the defined scope. WWEC Certification Administration issues a certificate valid for 12 months, and the listing is published to the certified workplaces directory.
- STEP 02
Decision deferred
A decision cannot yet be taken because permitted clarification, additional evidence, Employee Experience participation or remediation is outstanding. No certificate is issued and the organisation must not represent itself as WWEC-certified. This is a process status, not a certification status.
- STEP 03
Certification declined
The certification requirements are not satisfied within the proposed scope. The organisation receives the reasons, the improvement priorities and the earliest reapplication point.
After the decision
Verification, listing and renewal.
A certified organisation appears in the public directory with its scope, status and validity period, and any third party can verify the certificate independently. Improvement and renewal then continue the WWEC Workplace Excellence System™ cycle.
A certification decision applies only to the scope stated on the certificate and only for the stated validity period. No application, assessment result or package selection creates an entitlement to certification.