September 27, 2023
In partnership with Springbuk, we are excited to announce our honorees for the 2023 Healthiest Employers of the Triangle! All applicants are considered for our Healthiest 100 Workplaces America award. We will announce the 2023 award winners on October 4, 2023.
82.4% of the Triangle companies surveyed are on a hybrid schedule where employees are in the office on specific days. 17.6% work onsite or in-person and 0 companies are fully remote.
Additionally, some notable statistics from this year’s groups include:
- 94.1% provide group diversity and education opportunities as part of their DEI initiatives
- 88.2% offer paid maternity leave for new mothers
- 76.5% responded that members from upper leadership serve on the wellness committee
- 70.6% of companies provide a formal mentoring program for employees to partner with their coworkers for advancement opportunities
- 35.3% are using health analytics software to track data and strategically plan their wellness program
Congratulations to this year’s finalists!
*Please note that employee counts are based on full-time employees.
2 to 199 Employees
1st Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP – Raleigh – 156 Employees
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP is an entrepreneurial law firm focusing on growth-oriented businesses.
The firm's wellness program, Wellness is Elemental, has continuously evolved by incorporating employee feedback, and best practices, and addressing various aspects of wellness. They offer a range of educational events tailored to employee interests and demographics. In the past year, they introduced holistic health coaching, a meditation series, health literacy quizzes, and utilized technology for wellness challenges. The program has consistently seen high participation in biometric screenings, with positive improvements in blood pressure, total cholesterol, TC/HDL ratio, LDL, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose levels. Over the years, health measurements have been approaching national standards, and more participants are meeting all five wellness goals.
In 2022, there was an almost 11-point improvement in overall blood pressure risk, a 12-point reduction in the percentage of individuals with Stage 2 hypertension, and a 10-point increase in those with ideal blood pressure. The risk for diabetes also improved, falling below the national norm after two years of increase.
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2nd Storr Office Environments – Raleigh – 185 Employees
Storr Office Environments is on a mission to be the single-source solution for inspiring workspaces through consistent communication and continuous quality improvement of services. As a result, Storr continues to add new products and services in direct response to customers’ needs and assists several industries including corporate, healthcare, education, legal, and government organizations.
The company's most unique and popular offering is its monthly exercise program, which provides a structured framework for team members while allowing them the flexibility to choose workouts that suit their individual needs. Team members log their monthly progress to stay accountable to both the program and their personal fitness goals. The program includes a combination of cardio and strength-based exercises, along with nutrition education delivered through quarterly lunch and learn sessions and electronic resources. Participants can delve deeper into fitness if they wish, and meeting certain requirements allows them to earn bi-weekly rebates.
Storr takes a comprehensive approach to wellness, addressing physical, mental, emotional, professional, and spiritual well-being. They provide 1 wellness day per year in addition to paid time off (PTO) to prioritize mental health. Onsite, they offer 2 wellness rooms for use by new mothers and other employees in need of a mental health break. Telemedicine appointments and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are available to provide continuous access to resources. Storr offers hybrid and flexible work arrangements for most positions to accommodate employees' personal commitments. They also support internal financial assistance, professional growth, and physical wellness incentives to positively impact the mental health of their workforce.
200 to 999 Employees
1st Merz Aesthetics – Raleigh – 892 Employees
Merz Aesthetics, a family-owned company since 1908, stands as a global leader in aesthetics. Their acclaimed range of injectables, devices, and skincare products empowers healthcare professionals to enhance confidence through aesthetic medicine.
Virgin Pulse is a highly versatile and comprehensive benefit offering at Merz. It provides free and customizable support to employees, serving as a one-stop platform for accessing the company's 39 different benefit programs. It encourages employees to explore and engage with these programs, offering enhanced support for wellness journeys, goal tracking, and habit formation. Employees can personalize their experience to maximize the benefits and stay on top of preventive care, connect with colleagues, participate in friendly competitions, and earn rewards. The Total Wellness Team further promotes engagement through corporate-wide challenges, fostering a sense of community in the post-pandemic hybrid work environment.
Mental Wellness is a key focus at Merz, and the Total Wellness Team is dedicated to addressing employees' mental health needs by completing the SHRM Mental Health Ally Certificate program to better assist employees and provide support when needed. The company offers an Employee Assistance program available 24/7, irrespective of healthcare participation. Those in health plans have access to mental health resources like Talkspace for virtual therapy, AbleTo for coping skills, MDLive for behavioral health visits, and an extensive provider network. These benefits also extend to dependents. Throughout the year, Merz offers activities such as gentle yoga sessions, sick leave for mental health, chair massages, and dedicated mental wellness focus days to support employee well-being.
2nd City of Rocky Mount – Rocky Mount – 813 Employees
The City of Rocky Mount is a local government entity located in both Nash and Edgecombe counties, dedicated to the well-being and safety of its employees and citizens.
During annual biometric screenings, the third-party vendor PPCN reviews results for all employees and offers enrollment in chronic disease management programs if qualified, providing care by pharmacists along with incentives. The voluntary "HealthMap" program, focusing on diabetes, cardiovascular health, and behavioral health, achieves success through incentives, education, empowerment, and accountability. For engaged diabetes participants, 79.4% achieved an A1C level below 8.0% and participants saw an average weight loss of 13 pounds each.
Rocky Mount provides employees with a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes counseling for up to six free sessions per incident, 10 hours of wellness services, 24/7 access to support, and an additional 30 minutes of free legal counseling. They also address mental health through various initiatives, including mental health awareness challenges via the Fitthumb app, dedicated relaxation areas, educational resources from insurance carrier Aetna, Lunch and Learn sessions, Therapeutic Thursdays, mindfulness days with 10-minute massages, virtual and in-person mindfulness eating classes led by a chef, and a Mindfulness 360 class facilitated by an onsite counselor, which includes lunch and learn sessions and meditation activities.
3rd WithersRavenel Inc. – Cary – 406 Employees
WithersRavenel is an employee-owned (ESOP) multi-disciplined civil, environmental, and geomatics engineering firm with 40 years of service in the Carolinas.
The firm is comprised of 400 employee-owners who are dedicated to project success for public and private clients. Our staff includes Engineers, Land Surveyors, Landscape Architects, GIS Professionals, Wetland Biologists, CAD Technicians, Construction Administrators, and Geologists who are self-motivated professionals, committed to excellence in everything they do.
The Thrive wellbeing program's most distinctive feature is the inclusion of micro-training sessions, a testament to their recognition of the diverse needs of their teams in the midst of a hectic workday. These succinct 15-minute live sessions are conducted through video conferences and are conveniently recorded and made accessible via their SharePoint app for those unable to attend in real time. After the content delivery, they actively facilitate open discussions to promote social connections and provide a platform for participants to share ideas and recommendations related to the topic.
Diversity in speakers and content is a top priority, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, financial, and physical well-being, and is driven by feedback from their committee and internal surveys. They conduct quarterly reviews to stay adaptable and responsive to their team's evolving needs. The success of their program is best measured through survey feedback scores from each micro-training session, along with overall participation across multiple delivery channels and engagement rates from their leaders.
4th Railinc – Cary – 257 Employees
5th Samet Corporation – Greensboro – 509 Employees
6th Coastal Credit Union – Raleigh – 616 Employees
1000 to 4999 Employees
1st Wake County – Raleigh – 4,400 Employees
Wake County is a local government employer that is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected at-large to serve four-year terms. The mission of the organization is to improve the economy, education, social well-being, and physical quality of the community.
Wake County offers a comprehensive wellness program that covers a wide range of services, including onsite healthcare, fitness classes, massage therapy, mental well-being resources, meditation, financial planning, and skill-building courses such as cooking and cultural competency. In addition to a diverse wellness program, Wake County provides generous leave benefits, including bereavement, community involvement, paid paternity leave for all parents, paid family illness leave, military leave, wellness leave, extraordinary leave, and emergency leave. They also offer perks like tuition reimbursement, mortgage discounts, free flu shots, biometric screenings, breast exams, treadmill desks, legal protection, and remote and hybrid work options.
Wake County's commitment to employee health extends to two employee health centers that offer free acute care, health and wellness coaching, nutritional counseling, educational presentations, and mental health support for both employees and their spouses. With over 1,000 programs, including those related to diabetes, weight loss, and meditation, their wellness offerings are extensive. However, the program recognizes that a comprehensive wellness initiative must prioritize mental health. To combat the stigma associated with seeking help, they rebranded their EAP program as "myS.E.L.F.network," resulting in a significant increase in utilization. The CEO's video emphasizing the importance of mental health and self-care further contributes to destigmatization.
Wake County was named one of the 2022 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America.
2nd Syngenta – Greensboro – 4,435 Employees
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Syngenta emphasizes its Reaping Rewards Wellness Program, which allows employees to accumulate points for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This program takes a holistic approach, addressing mind, body, and spirit to promote overall well-being. It aims to engage employees at various stages of their health and fitness journey, ensuring positive benefits for everyone. The program offers the opportunity to earn up to $300 annually for participating in healthy behaviors, making it a significant incentive.
Syngenta has adopted a comprehensive approach to tackle mental health issues within the company. They introduced Mental Health Safety Leadership Training, equipping leaders with tools to support colleagues' well-being. Over 400 leaders in the North American region have undergone this practical training. Another version of this training has also been made available to all Syngenta employees. Additionally, the company has organized employee webinars where internal leaders share their mental health experiences, alongside mental health professionals offering coping strategies. These initiatives aim to promote proactive mental health care, encourage support for others, and normalize discussions about mental health. Further discussions and mental health safety training are planned throughout the year.
They provide five covered sessions through their Employee Assistance Program and cover 100% of mental health costs outside of medication through health insurance. The company has also introduced flexible work schedules and a new vacation policy, granting all employees 30 vacation days per year, with a mandatory 15 days to be used. These measures are designed to enhance work-life balance and support employees in leading fulfilling and productive lives. Syngenta is committed to addressing mental health through a multifaceted approach.
Syngenta was named one of the 2022 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America.
3rd Durham County Government – Durham – 1,882 Employees
Durham County provides high-quality, fiscally responsible services vital to a safe, healthy, and vibrant community all while offering an abundant opportunity for all residents to live, work, learn, play, and grow. Durham County was and is still heralded as a progressive community steeped in culture with a viable business, research, medical, and industrial bases.
Durham County is prioritizing employee mental health by providing free Headspace memberships to employees and up to five family members. This app offers mindfulness meditation guidance, sleep casts for improved sleep, focus tools, exercise routines, gentle stretches, and mindful workouts. The response from employees has been highly positive, with over 350 individuals enrolling in the first three weeks since the program launched on June 1, 2023.
The organization is excited about its partnership with Cigna for medical and behavioral health services. Cigna has expanded its in-network behavioral health options to meet the growing demand for mental health services and provide a variety of virtual and telephonic options to accommodate those who prefer remote sessions. Employees can use navigational tools on myCigna to understand the true cost of each resource under the plan and explore available therapists to find the right fit. Efforts have been made to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health support, with ongoing communications to employees about available resources and how to access them. Additionally, the organization offers a dedicated EAP program through ComPsych, providing free counseling sessions and work-life balance support for both employees and their family members. With the inclusion of Headspace, the organization is committed to meeting employees where they are to address any mental health concerns, ensuring comprehensive support.
Durham County Government was named one of the 2022 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America.
4th Gilbane – Providence, Rhode Island (Local Office: Raleigh) – 3,005 Employees
5th Messer Construction Co. – Cincinnati, Ohio (Local Office: Raleigh) – 1,373 Employees
5000+ Employees
1st Blue Cross NC – Durham – 5,447 Employees
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has been committed to making health care easier to navigate, more affordable, and more accessible to all since 1933. Today, Blue Cross NC is a fully taxed, not-for-profit North Carolina company with major operations centers in Durham and Winston-Salem, employing more than 5,000 team members and serving more than 4.3 clients.
The organization offers a unique benefit known as the Hinge Health program, which combines exercise therapy with behavioral support and personalized coaching to alleviate various joint pains, including knee, back, hip, neck, and shoulder discomfort. This program is available free of charge to employees enrolled in the company-sponsored health plan, with charges billed through claims.
The partnership with Hinge Health began in 2019, initially launching a pilot program for chronic knee and back pain among employees on the medical plan. It expanded in 2020 to include hip, neck, and shoulder programs, and in 2021, the program was extended to cover spouses and domestic partners on the health plan. In 2022, Hinge Health introduced additional programming for prevention, acute issues, chronic conditions, and surgical recovery.
The effectiveness of the Hinge Health program since its launch in 2019 is highlighted by data from December 2018 to November 2021, which shows that Year 2 participants in the program experienced per member per month savings of $70, totaling $840 in savings per participant annually. With 101 Year 2 participants remaining enrolled during this period, the program generated an average annual savings of $84,840.
Blue Cross NC was named one of the 2022 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America.
2nd U-Haul International – Phoenix, Arizona (Multiple Local Offices) – 17,170 Employees
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the number one choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America and offers 876,000 rentable storage units and 75.1 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading “Best for Vets” employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America.
In 2022, U-Haul introduced Virta to its benefits package, initially focusing on the Type 2 diabetes program. The outstanding outcomes prompted them to expand offerings to encompass all three Virta programs: Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and obesity reversal. Virta's research-based approach effectively and sustainably reverses these conditions without medication or surgery-related risks, costs, or side effects. The program leads to lowered A1c levels, weight loss, and reduced or eliminated insulin use. Since implementing Virta, participants enrolled in the treatment plan have experienced an average reduction in insulin usage by 54% and collectively shed over 3,200 pounds.
To further support mental well-being, U-Haul introduced a Mindset App Reimbursement program in 2022, covering mindfulness, breathwork, and meditation techniques. Executive leadership actively promotes these benefits and encourages team members to utilize them and seek the help they need. The onsite medical clinic integrates mental health benefits into its services, with providers trained to assist team members in accessing the appropriate resources.
U-Haul was named one of the 2022 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America.
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3rd Terracon, Inc. – Olathe, Kansas (Local Office: Raleigh) – 5,554 Employees
Terracon, Inc. is an engineering firm that focuses on environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials consulting and engineering services.
The company places a strong emphasis on safety and wellbeing, with a commitment to "Incident and Injury Free" to ensure that all employees return home safely to their families every day. This aligns with Terracon's mission of "care and concern" for its employees and their families.
In 2022, there was a significant focus on mental and emotional wellbeing, leading to the introduction of compassionate leave, providing up to 24 hours of leave for employees to care for loved ones facing life-threatening illnesses, serious injuries, bereavement, or post-loss matters. The Calm app, offering sleep, meditation, and relaxation resources, was also made available to employees and their families.
For hourly field employees, a financial well-being toolkit and financial wellness webinars were created as part of the career path project. This initiative addresses budgeting, saving, and building emergency savings, particularly important for employees with variable incomes due to the seasonal nature of their jobs.
To promote a culture of well-being, the company has Wellbeing Champions at each of its 150+ offices. These champions encourage and support wellbeing programs, events, and communication while also engaging in activities that enhance physical, and social wellbeing, and community support, aligning with the company's broader wellbeing initiatives.
For any questions regarding this award, please reach out to info@healthiestemployers.com.
