2022 Finalists
July 29, 2022
In partnership with Springbuk, we are excited to announce our honorees for the 2022 Healthiest Employers of Texas.
The Great Resignation has left many companies short-staffed and burnt out, but the policies put in place have helped combat these challenges and earn them a spot on this list. Employers have had to think outside of the box when it comes to workplace wellness, as the past few years have provided many challenges to the modern American office.
Data from our survey this year indicates that Texas applicants:
- 77% offer tuition reimbursement programs
- 73% offer at least 36 days of paid time off for new mothers (36% offer more than 71 days)
- 36% offer at least 36 days of paid time off for new fathers (16% offer more than 71 days)
- 57% of programs have been in place for more than 10 years
- 98% offer telemedicine and telephonic resources
- 73% host employee and family appreciation days
- 68% are tracking data utilizing a health analytics platform
We congratulate each of the following companies for their placement this year and continued commitment to employee well-being!
100 to 499 Employees
1st Hill and Wilkinson General Contractors – Richardson – 303 Employees
Hill and Wilkinson General Contractors is a construction firm that provides a variety of professional services, including design-build, preconstruction, and general contracting. They believe in supporting the health of their employees at work by allowing time off throughout the day to focus on personal well-being. Through their online platform, WellWorks, employees can track their healthy habits related to physical, financial, and mental health activities. Employees and their covered spouses can earn rebates each year for completing activities and preventive screenings.
Paul Driscoll, CEO at Hill and Wilkinson, feels employees appreciate their commitment to their people. “I am proud of how our team is committed to improving their health and wellness through small lifestyle changes,” he shared. “After 14 years, our commitment to caring for their overall well-being remains as we continue to research ways to improve and enhance the program each year. We offer those benefits because we care and it is the right thing to do. Being recognized for an award is near and dear to our hearts because it is the cherry on top.”
2nd LJB Inc. – Miamisburg, Ohio (Local Office: Houston) – 157 Employees
LJB Inc. is a national engineering firm that builds infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, utilities, and engineered safety systems.
LJB’s wellness program understands that well-being encompasses more than just exercise and nutrition. Several of their programs aim to create a positive social and mental environment for employees to connect with each other like book clubs, young professional groups, on-site blood drives and volunteer opportunities, and seminars specific to different pillars of wellness. The sense of community that is created among co-workers has created a fun, competitive environment, with team members walking over 69 million steps in 16 weeks as part of a step challenge.
“As a former collegiate athlete, wellness and fitness have always been top of mind,” shared Brant Gressel, a Civil Engineer at LJB. “LJB’s commitment to wellness has allowed me to pick up where I left off in college and continue to live a healthy lifestyle. LJB encourages routine meetings with our health coach, allowing employees to learn about various health and wellness topics. I am proud to work for a company that holds the health and wellness of its employees in such high regard!”
3rd City of Mont Belvieu – Mont Belvieu – 170 Employees
The City of Mont Belvieu is a rapidly growing town located approximately 30 miles east of Houston. The employee count at the City has doubled in the last 12 months, speaking to the increased need for appropriate wellness programming.
The City operates a recreation center and golf course, where employees receive free gym memberships, discounted rounds of golf, and 40% off all meals at these locations.
“Focusing on my health and wellness has been life altering for me,” stated Nicole Ganey, Utility Billing Manager. “I have lost over 50 pounds, and am the healthiest I have ever been. I owe so much of my success to the City of Mont Belvieu. The City offers employees an affordable gym membership where I was able to join exercise classes, train on the outdoor trails, and meet other like minded people in the community.”
4th b.well Connected Health – Eldersburg, Maryland (Local Office: Austin) –78 Employees
5th Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP – Austin – 138 Employees
500 to 1,499 Employees
1st Imagine360 Administrators, LLC – Wayne, Pennsylvania (Local Office: Dallas) – 1,080 Employees
Imagine360's success is built on providing self-insured employers with a personalized approach to healthcare, relying on industry-leading technology and high-touch patient care to deliver the healthiest employees and a better bottom line.
One of their most unique benefit offerings is the Imagine360 and Livongo Whole Person program, which is offered at no cost to members to manage diabetes, hypertension, and other health goals. Members receive free connected devices such as a free blood glucose meter or blood pressure monitor that automatically uploads readings, which are transmitted to the member’s licensed care coach. The care coaches diligently work one on one to set goals, manage their condition, and create healthy habits that will improve their health and quality of life.
Jacki Skwarek, the Chief Operating Officer in the Texas region, shared this about the program, “Imagine360 offers employees and employers a health plan solution that puts people at the center for a completely reimagined healthcare experience. We understand that our people are our greatest asset, and we prioritize their health and well-being with our high-engagement program. I am proud to work for a company that understands the importance of a healthy and happy workforce and strives to encourage and offer solutions for the whole person.”
2nd Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP – Washington, D.C. (Local Offices: Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio) – 678 Employees
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Akin Gump is a global law firm with more than 1700 lawyers, advisors, and support staff who pride themselves on providing dedicated service to their clients and communities. One of their most popular wellness program benefits is their Fitness and Well-Being Reimbursement program, which pays for several expenses that contribute to employee well-being, such as free gym memberships, sleep aids, and mobile apps and services.
Since 2007, Akin Gump has worked to reduce mental health stigma and provide cost-free services to those dealing with family-related stresses, anxiety or depression, or substance abuse issues.
“What excites and motivates me to come to work every day is seeing the positive impacts we are having on employees’ lives and well-being,” said Kim Isgar, Director of Benefits at Akin Gump. “Employees seek support in many well-being areas and I’m proud that our firm offers so many resources and tools that can help them and their families. It’s fulfilling to see engagement with our desk stretching sessions, mental health webinars, meditation sessions, fitness benefits, financial well-being resources, and so much more. We continue to stay true to our benefits programs’ guiding principles to meet people where they are and approach well-being from a holistic and inclusive perspective.”
3rd Jackson Walker LLP – Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio – 731 Employees
Jackson Walker LLP solves complex legal challenges in a way that is straightforward, cost-effective, and strategically tailored to their clients’ needs. For over 135 years, they have helped businesses of all sizes navigate the increasingly complex legal landscape.
In the past year, Jackson Walker LLP realized that their wellness program and Employee Assistance Program was lacking in the mental health space. They decided to partner with Modern Health and Calm to provide digital coaching therapy and guided meditation practices for employees.
The new additions to the mental wellness realm of the program are a great start in order for the company to destigmatize mental health and provide adequate options for employees to grow, develop, and learn within the space.
“When I joined the firm, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic late in 2020,” shared an anonymous employee. “I was out of shape, depressed, and was just not feeling great. The program helped me finally get to a place where I was in better shape and overall happier. Participating with the program and Vitality platform kept me engaged and helped me own my personal well-being.”
4th Walker & Dunlop – Bethesda, Maryland (Local Offices: Dallas, Houston, Austin) – 1,364 Employees
5th Health Carousel, LLC – Cincinnati, Ohio (Local Office: Irving) – 647 Employees
6th SolarWinds – Austin – 871 Employees
7th G&A Partners – Houston – 611 Employees
8th Whitley Penn – Fort Worth – 678 Employees
9th Henderson Engineers – Lenexa, Kansas (Local Offices: Plano and Houston) – 931 Employees
1,500-4,999 Employees
1st Higginbotham – Fort Worth – 1,970 Employees
Higginbotham provides a single source for insurance, risk management, and financial services by providing access to commercial and personal property/casualty coverage, employee benefits, retirement plans, life insurance, and executive compensation.
In the past decade, Higginbotham has quadrupled in employee size, which can often bring several challenges. The Healthy HIG Program offers a member-centered strategy to provide the best resources to employees, which helps decrease risk both individually and aggregately. Through digital coaching, financial wellness seminars, community volunteerism, and on-demand workouts, the program provides flexibility to employees, helping improve the company’s culture.
“Higginbotham is a people-first firm, and one of our core values is to be family to our employees,” said Rusty Reid, Chairman and CEO at Higginbotham. “That means giving them the resources they need to lead healthy lifestyles so they’re happy at home, productive at work, and satisfied with their employment so they’re part of our family for many years. Another of our core values is to be accountable to our clients. As an insurance and employee benefit services firm, we put the knowledge we gain with our own culture of wellness to work within our clients’ wellness programs so their workforces benefit from our experience.”
2nd Gilbane Building Company – Providence, Rhode Island (Local Offices: Houston and San Antonio) – 3,355 Employees
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Gilbane Building Company is one of the largest privately-held, family-owned construction, real estate, and facility management services companies, celebrating 150 years of business in 2020.
As a construction organization, safety is always top of mind at Gilbane. Beyond physical safety in the workplace, they are committed to providing a holistic wellness approach encompassing all facets of well-being. Last year, 67% of employees enrolled in the medical program completed the requirements to earn a discount on their medical premium. And, employees received an additional incentive for having their spouses complete preventive care and establishing relationships with a primary care physician.
“At Gilbane, wellbeing is embedded in our culture from both a benefits and a safety perspective through our core value of Caring, and our Gilbane Cares safety philosophy. We have been fortunate to have both a high participation rate among our employees and a strong executive role modeling of healthy behaviors. Through changes like our move to Staywell/WebMD, we have worked to make it easy for our employees and their family members to get healthy,” said Courtney Cannata, Senior Human Resources Director.
3rd Hess Corporation – Houston – 1,500 Employees
Hess Corporation is a leading shale oil and gas producer, serving as one of the largest producers in the deep water Gulf of Mexico.
Since September of 2021, Hess has increased their wellness program participation by 19% by increasing wellness promotions, providing bonus incentives, and utilizing social media to gain awareness. Employees’ telehealth visits are covered through their online platform so that everyone can receive the help needed.
An anonymous employee at Hess shared this testimonial, “In January 2018, I found myself tipping the scales at 308 pounds. I felt like I was existing and not really living, so I decided to make a change. I started with the corporate walking step challenge, shooting for 10,000 steps a day. This led to spending time in the gym and getting serious about my health. In June 2020, I was down 100 pounds, and in 2021, I hiked Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado, totaling 7.5 hours roundtrip. Last year, I ran my first 5k since college, and I have dropped my blood pressure, cholesterol, and asthma medications, while also overcoming sleep apnea. My life has truly been transformed and I am having a blast!”
4th WellSky Corporation – Overland Park, Kansas (Local Office: Austin) – 1,561 Employees
5th ChenMed – Miami, Florida (Local Office: Houston) – 4,518 Employees
6th JE Dunn Construction – Kansas City, Missouri (Local Office: Austin) – 4,197 Employees
7th Harman International Industries, Inc. – Stamford, Connecticut (Local Office: Richardson) – 2,013 Employees
8th Oncor – Dallas – 4,400 Employees
9th MongoDB – New York, New York (Local Office: Austin) – 2,056 Employees
10th Polsinelli – Kansas City, Missouri (Local Office: Dallas) – 1,655 Employees
11th Ryan, LLC – Dallas – 2,015 Employees
5,000-9,999 Employees
1st Harris Health System – Bellaire – 9,323 Employees
Harris Health System is a fully integrated community-focused academic healthcare system dedicated to improving the health of those most in need in Harris County, Texas, through quality care delivery, coordination of care and education.
In a recent survey, 89.72% of employees believe their employer cares about their health and well-being, a 3.4% increase from the previous year. One of their main priorities is diabetes management for applicable employees. With Livongo, Harris Health has been able to engage with this population to help manage costs and improve the quality of life for these employees. Participants in the program proved to save 17% more than non-participants in medical claims, totaling a difference of $3,018,240 per year. Members report feeling more empowered in the management of their diabetes through this program.
“I started using the Livongo program almost immediately after it was rolled out to Harris Health System’s employees in 2017,” shared Shawn DeCosta, an Accreditation Specialist at the company. “This benefit has been life-saving in fostering the management of my diabetes. I have been able to monitor my diabetes with the assistance of around-the-clock coaches who text me, immediately, to render assistance if there is an issue with my glucose numbers after testing. They make recommendations and follow-up to ensure I am on the right path. I am also encouraged to call at any time if I have questions, or just need to speak with someone. Additionally, the meter offers suggestions on what to eat and shares exercise tips among other things.”
2nd Genuine McCarthy Enterprises – St. Louis, Missouri (Local Office: Dallas) 6,047 Employees
For more than 150 years, McCarthy has been a leader in the construction industry, with projects in nearly every state, with various markets, including healthcare, universities, educational facilities, government entities, and much more.
As a repeat applicant, McCarthy is continuously innovating on their employee health benefits plans and resources. The personalization available through their approach speaks highly to the value that McCarthy places in employee-owners and families. Even before the pandemic, the construction industry ranked as one of the top industries for suicide due to the rigorous job requirements and stress. In early 2021, McCarthy expanded offerings surrounding mental health awareness through the launch of the McCarthy “Genuine Care" Mental Health program, designed to break the stigma surrounding mental health through increased conversations. Additional resources were created to promote conversation during daily toolbox talks, safety moments, and national meetings. They have also communicated the free resources available through their EAP, highlighting that the program does not limit the number of covered therapists visits and limiting the barriers to appropriate care.
“We have had a robust wellness program for quite a few years now, but I am exceptionally proud of the enhancements we’ve implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in the area of mental health,” Lisa Sanders, Vice President of Human Resources Operations shared. “We developed new and updated materials, resources, and tools to emphasize and support mental health awareness on job sites and in offices. As part of our efforts, we also offered to help other companies who might have questions about our program or would like to use any of our materials! To me, this is what wellness is all about. When we can work together, it benefits us all.”
3rd Ericsson – Plano, Texas – 6,133 Employees
Ericsson is one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, enabling the full value of connectivity by creating game-changing technology and services that are easy to use, adopt, and scale, making their customers successful in a fully connected world.
In 2021, the wellness program at Ericsson was audited by Willis Towers Watson’s Well-being Diagnostic Scorecard to see how programs are experiencing high utilization and driving outcomes. They scored in the 84th percentile of all tech companies for best-in-class programming and the 89th percentile for utilization and outcomes, which speaks volumes to their commitment to employee health and happiness.
"Our people are key to ensuring Ericsson's future success, and our focus has been steadfast in enabling a work culture that supports our people in bringing the best version of themselves to Ericsson,” said Kevin Marcellus, Head of People for North America. “We're proud of the success our E-Health wellness programs have achieved, and we're continuing to support the well-being of our employees in innovative and creative ways. As we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our employees as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to focus on ensuring our employees have access to resources to support them during this time."
4th Cook Children’s Hospital – Fort Worth – 8,000 Employees
5th Burns & McDonnell – Kansas City, Missouri (Local Offices: Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth) – 7,189 Employees
6th CBIZ – Cleveland, Ohio (Local Offices: Houston, Dallas, Midland) – 5,192 Employees
7th Terracon Consultants, Inc. – Olathe, Kansas (Local Office: Houston) – 5,424 Employees
10,000+
1st Quanta Services Inc. – Houston – 40,000 Employees
Quanta Services is the leading, end-to-end solutions provider in the electric power sector.
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Mental health has been top priority for Quanta over the past couple of years. One unique benefit offering is their mental health first aid program which teaches the importance of identifying those experiencing a mental health crisis and responding to these signs. Every event or meeting at the company includes a wellness portion to help create a positive culture throughout the organization. Employee program engagement is between 75-80% in the company and employees appreciate flexible work from home opportunities, healthy daily lunches, and sponsoring community events.
“I have always wanted to be healthier and take better care of myself, but I have lacked the structure or plan to do it,” said Joel Urista, Claims Coordinator at Quanta. “However, at Quanta, healthy habits are so readily available and the wellness program addresses multiple aspects of healthy living. Many years I would go without a physical, but the health fair here at work makes it so easy to receive onel. The Virgin Pulse app also helps keep me motivated with daily tips and rewards me for participating. It is also gr
