Methodology

ATHLETE WORKFORCE INDEX™

The Athlete Workforce Index™ measures how strongly athlete-aligned behaviors appear across your organization. The Index produces a composite score from 0 to 100 based on aggregated employee responses across five dimensions. Individual responses are always confidential.

D1 Athletic Density: Years competing, sports played, and how athletic background shows up in how people work.

D2 Sport Composition: The mix of sports represented and the skills those sports build.

D3 Competition Level Highest level of competition faced from high school, college, and beyond.

D4 Leadership Concentration Captain roles, team leadership, and how sports shaped the way employees lead.

D5 Performance Pedigree & Engagement Achievements earned as athletes and whether they stay active and connected to sports today.

SCORE INTERPRETATION

0 to 20 Minimal Athlete Alignment Athletic traits appear rarely or only within isolated individuals. For employers, this means the organization is not yet leveraging the competitive behaviors that athletes bring to the workplace. Recruiting, retention, and leadership development are not connected to athletic identity. For athletes in the workforce, their sports background is invisible. It's not recognized, valued, or activated as a professional asset.

21 to 40 Emerging Athlete Alignment Athlete-aligned traits exist but are inconsistent. For employers, pockets of high performance culture may exist within certain teams or departments, but there is no organization-wide system reinforcing those behaviors. For athletes in the workforce, their experience may be appreciated informally by individual managers but is not part of how the company hires, develops, or promotes.

41 to 60 Moderate Athlete Alignment Athletic influence is visible across multiple teams and contributes to culture and performance. For employers, athlete-trained behaviors like accountability, feedback tolerance, and competitive drive are present and productive but not yet deliberately recruited or developed. For athletes in the workforce, the environment feels familiar and their instincts are rewarded, but the company hasn't formally connected athletic identity to career growth.

61 to 80 Strong Athlete Alignment Athletic experience meaningfully shapes culture, decision making, and performance expectations. For employers, this means athlete-aligned employees are a competitive advantage. They stay longer, lead more effectively, and raise the standard for everyone around them. Recruiting athletes is natural, not forced. For athletes in the workforce, this is a place where their background is a credential. They are recognized for what sports taught them, not just what they studied.

81 to 100 Exceptional Athlete Alignment Athlete-driven leadership is a defining element of organizational identity. For employers, the company operates like a team. Performance is measured, feedback is constant, roles are clear, and competitive drive is a cultural norm. This is a Top 100 company. For athletes in the workforce, this is home. Their language is spoken, their instincts are valued, and their identity as competitors is part of why they were hired and why they stay.

CERTIFICATION TIERS

Certification is based on participation, not score. Higher participation reflects stronger commitment.

Platinum 60%+ employee participation The highest recognition. Athlete-aligned culture is embedded across the entire organization.

Gold 50 to 59% employee participation A majority participated. Strong organizational buy-in and broad cultural alignment.

Silver 40 to 49% employee participation Significant engagement. Emerging commitment to athlete-aligned leadership.

Bronze 30 to 39% employee participation Entry threshold. Initial organizational commitment with a foundation to grow.

Below 30% does not qualify for certification or placement on the Top 100 Employers for Athletes™ list.