Certification
WWEC Certification Methodology
WWEC Women-Centred Workplace™ Certification uses a controlled, evidence-based process combining organisational evidence, employee experience and structured assessment against the applicable WWEC Standard. Assessment findings are independently reviewed before an authorised certification decision is made.
- Document
- WWEC Certification Source of Truth
- Version
- v1.0 (incl. Addendum 1.0A and Correction C-1)
- Effective
- 27 September 2026
- Approved by
- WWEC Council
- Status
- Approved and effective
End to end
Twelve stages, one controlled process.
Each stage links to its detailed page.
- 01
Application
The organisation applies and states the proposed scope.
Details → - 02
Eligibility & Scope
Eligibility and the certification scope are confirmed under the scheme rules.
Details → - 03
Organisational Evidence
Evidence is gathered against the applicable criteria.
Details → - 04
Employee Experience
Employees in scope are invited to a confidential survey.
Details → - 05
WWEC Workplace Excellence Truth Map™ Triangulation
Intent, Reality and Experience are compared.
Details → - 06
Assessment
An authorised assessor examines the evidence and records findings.
Details → - 07
Scoring & Findings
Criteria are scored 0–4 and reported on a 0–100 scale.
Details → - 08
Technical Review
A separate reviewer checks method, evidence, scoring and completeness.
Details → - 09
Independent Certification Decision
The WWEC Certification Decision Panel decides.
Details → - 10
Certification & Public Verification
If granted, the certificate and public verification record are issued.
Details → - 11
Improvement / Ongoing Assurance
Findings inform improvement; authorised assurance activities continue.
Details → - 12
Renewal
Certification lasts 12 months. Renewal is required and not automatic.
Details →
Architecture
How the pieces fit.
- 8 Dimensions
- Applicable Criteria
- Organisational Evidence + Employee Experience
- WWEC Workplace Excellence Truth Map™
- Assessment & Findings
- Scoring
- Independent Technical Review
- Authorised Certification Decision
- WWEC Women-Centred Workplace™ Certification, if granted
- Public Verification
- Improvement / Ongoing Assurance
- Renewal
Scoring
One scoring model.
Each applicable criterion receives an evidence-supported score from 0 to 4, converted to the 0–100 reporting scale. Dimension scores are built from their criterion scores, and the overall certification score is the equal-weighted mean of the eight dimensions (12.5% each).
| Criterion score (0–4) | Reporting score (0–100) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 25 |
| 2 | 50 |
| 3 | 75 |
| 4 | 100 |
Certification rule
- Overall certification score of at least 70/100
- Every one of the eight dimensions at least 50/100
- All applicable Mandatory Requirements satisfied
- Sufficient organisational evidence
- Employee Experience participation requirements satisfied
- The required assessment and review completed
- No unresolved issue that prevents a defensible certification decision
A numerical threshold does not automatically grant certification. A high overall score cannot compensate for a dimension below 50 or an unsatisfied Mandatory Requirement. A score band alone does not determine certification.
Scored requirements contribute to the numerical calculation. WWEC may designate requirements within the controlled Standard as Mandatory Requirements. These cannot be compensated for through scoring elsewhere. Not every criterion is mandatory — the designation must exist in the controlled Standard.
Alignment analysis compares Intent, Reality and Experience to identify convergence, divergence and gaps. It may inform evidence sufficiency, clarification, requests for additional evidence, assessment findings and improvement priorities. It does not change the numerical certification score. No quantitative alignment formula is published.
Employee Experience
Confidential, voluntary, reported only in aggregate.
The participation requirement and the confidentiality reporting threshold are separate controls. The minimum separately reportable subgroup is 5 valid responses; smaller groups are not reported separately, and additional suppression is applied where combining categories could identify respondents. Employers do not receive identifiable individual responses.
Independence
Who assesses, who reviews, who decides.
- 01
WWEC Authorised Assessor
Assesses evidence and records proposed findings and scores.
- 02
WWEC Certification Reviewer
Separate from the assessor. Reviews methodology application, evidence sufficiency, scoring, Mandatory Requirements, Employee Experience sufficiency and completeness.
- 03
WWEC Certification Decision Panel
The authority that makes the individual certification decision.
Administrative support — not a decision stage
WWEC Certification Administration
Administrative coordination and controlled communication. After a recorded positive decision, issues the certificate and establishes the public verification record. No authority to alter assessment findings, technical review conclusions or certification decisions.
Assessment, technical review and certification decision are separate controlled functions. Commercial relationships do not determine certification outcomes. The WWEC Council governs the certification scheme. It does not routinely make individual certification decisions.
Decision outcomes
Certification awarded
All certification conditions are satisfied. Administration issues the certificate and the public verification record.
Decision deferred
A process status. No certificate is issued and the organisation must not describe itself as WWEC-certified.
Certification declined
The certification conditions are not satisfied.
WWEC Certification is valid for 12 months from its effective/issue date, subject to the certification status and scope shown in the official verification record. Continued certification after the validity period requires renewal/re-certification under the applicable WWEC procedure; it is not automatic.
Commercial firewall. Purchasing WWEC membership, events, sponsorship, training, advisory or other commercial services — including participation in the WWEC Women Leaders Network™ — does not influence certification assessment, scoring, technical review or certification decisions. Commercial and relationship-management personnel do not determine certification outcomes.
Glossary
Controlled certification terms.
- WWEC Standard
- The controlled Standard containing the eight dimensions and the criteria against which certification is assessed.
- Dimension
- One of the eight areas of the Standard. Each is weighted equally at 12.5% of the overall certification score.
- Criterion
- A requirement within a dimension. Each applicable criterion is scored on the 0–4 assessment scale.
- Evidence
- Organisational records and Employee Experience information examined against the applicable criteria within the approved scope.
- Evidence sufficiency
- Whether the evidence is enough to support a defensible finding. Sufficient organisational evidence is a condition of certification.
- Finding
- An assessor's recorded conclusion about a criterion, supported by the assessment record.
- Mandatory Requirement
- A requirement designated as mandatory in the controlled Standard. It cannot be compensated for by scoring elsewhere.
- Criterion score
- The 0–4 score given to an applicable criterion, converted to 0–100 (0, 25, 50, 75, 100).
- Dimension score
- The 0–100 score for a dimension, built from its applicable criterion scores. Every dimension must reach at least 50.
- Overall certification score
- The equal-weighted mean of the eight dimension scores on a 0–100 scale. Certification requires at least 70, together with every other condition.
- WWEC Workplace Excellence Index™
- A workplace self-assessment and insight tool, distinct from WWEC Certification. Its result is not a certification score.
- WWEC Workplace Excellence Truth Map™
- The triangulation model comparing Intent, Reality and Experience.
- Technical review
- Review by the WWEC Certification Reviewer, separate from the assessor, of methodology application, evidence sufficiency, scoring, Mandatory Requirements, Employee Experience sufficiency and completeness.
- Certification decision
- The individual decision made by the WWEC Certification Decision Panel.
- Certification scope
- The boundaries stated on the certificate and public verification record. Certification applies only within that scope.
- Ongoing assurance
- Activities between issue and expiry that the scheme authorises, such as complaints, material changes and mark-use concerns.
- Renewal
- Re-certification required to continue certification after the 12-month validity period. It is not automatic.