CARE Certification:
The new currency of trust between
employers, employees, and job-seekers.

A workplace standard that measures what truly matters — compassion, accountability, rights, and equity.

Trust at work is broken

Employers promise "people first" while workers quietly burn out.
Job-seekers read job ads like riddles, hoping they’re not walking into another trap.
CARE Certification closes that gap.
It verifies how companies treat their people — not what they say on their career site.

What CARE Stands For

Grounded in the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the CARE framework measures every stage of employment, from hiring to exit, through four pillars: Compassion, Accountability, Rights, and Equity.

For employers

Culture that pays back

CARE Certification reduces costly turnover, strengthens productivity, and protects your brand from reputational risk.
Because fairness isn’t charity - it’s operational efficiency.

For employees

Safeguard fair work

It helps you see whether your workplace lives up to its words — and gives you language to advocate for what’s fair.
A CARE-aligned culture means clear communication, respect for time, and safe boundaries.
It’s how good workplaces stay good.

For job-seekers

The signal of great employers

When you see the CARE badge, you know what you’re walking into. Pay is transparent, boundaries are respected, and employment terms are clear. Growth is possible without burnout. It’s one less risk in a system that too often asks people to settle.

Certification Levels

Start where you are, grow at your pace. Verification is priced on a sliding scale based on company size - so whether you’re a 5-person startup or a 500-person firm, there’s a path that fits. Every level moves us closer to work that’s fair, transparent, and human.

CARE Committed

Public pledge + baseline self-assessment. Shows intent and access to starter resources.


CARE Certified

Verified across all four CARE pillars with badge + listing to signal credibility.


CARE Leader

Goes beyond compliance - sharing best practices, shaping the future of fair work.


The CARE Journey

Becoming CARE Certified isn’t a checkbox. It’s a process that builds real accountability over time.

Month 1–2: CARE Committed

Employers start by pledging to uphold the CARE principles — Compassion, Accountability, Rights, and Equity — and completing a baseline self-assessment.

Month 3–4: CARE Certified

Evidence is reviewed, policies verified, and results measured against global standards. Companies that meet the mark earn the certification badge — a visible signal of credible commitment.

Ongoing: Continuous Improvement

CARE doesn’t end with the badge. Certified employers stay accountable through regular reporting, employee feedback, and transparent progress updates.

Because fair work isn’t a milestone. It’s maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get quick answers to common questions about the CARE Certification — how it works, why it matters, and what it means for your organization.

CARE stands for Compassion, Accountability, Rights, and Equity. It’s a global workplace standard that evaluates how employers treat their people — beyond perks and slogans. It measures what actually matters: fairness, safety, respect, and transparent practices.

Join the movement toward fair employment

Whether you’re hiring, employed, or still searching — you have a stake in how work is defined.

Happily employed. Not just a status. It’s a standard.

© HappilyEmployed

Happily Employed is a registered non-profit organization (ideell förening) in Sweden