Oct. 6, 2023
In partnership with Springbuk, we are excited to announce our honorees for the 2023 Healthiest Employers of Washington.
All applicants were considered for our Healthiest 100 Workplaces America award which was announced on October 4.
93.8% of the Washington companies surveyed are on a hybrid schedule where employees are in the office on specific days. 6.3% work onsite or in-person and 0 companies are fully remote.
Additionally, some notable statistics from this year’s groups include:
- 87.5% have reported a dedicated relaxation or quiet space onsite for employees to visit throughout the day
- 81.3% provide diversity, equity, and inclusion training
- 68.8% offer at least 5 weeks of paid time off for new mothers
- 56.3% examine social determinants of health (SDoH) when
- 37.5% have adoption assistance or reimbursement programs that help employees with adoption agency fees, costs, travel, etc.
Congratulations to this year’s finalists!
*Please note that employee counts are based on full-time employees.
2 to 149 Employees
1st Permanente Dental Associates, P.C. – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Vancouver) – 133 Employees
Permanente Dental Associates, P.C. (PDA) is a Northwest-based, dentist-owned multidisciplinary group practice that contracts with Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of the Northwest to provide integrated oral health care for more than 290,000 Kaiser Permanente Dental members.
Their Wellness Program emphasizes a unique and inclusive approach to health and wellness, as evidenced by its lower-than-average rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension compared to national and regional standards. The program values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as demonstrated by its diverse wellness committee and inclusive programming. Unlike traditional wellness programs, PDA does not focus on biometric measures for incentives, recognizing that sustainable health changes require a holistic approach. Despite not emphasizing weight, the program has achieved a 20% lower rate of obesity compared to national and regional averages. The success is attributed to the program's commitment to addressing individuals' self-concept, traits, and motives through inclusive and approachable programming.
Dentistry is a profession marked by high intelligence and compassion and faces significant mental health challenges, with elevated rates of depression and suicide. The pandemic intensified these issues, prompting increased focus on mental health and well-being programming in 2022. The organization, motivated by the tragic loss of a dentist to suicide in 2021, underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to support mental health. To enhance existing resources, the organization is adopting a peer support program modeled after one successfully implemented by physicians. This initiative includes training for dentists to address mental health needs, online tools, and wellness programming. Peer Supporters, selected based on specific criteria, will provide additional assistance for dentists in distress, bridging the gap between standard resources and anonymous Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services. The organization's active pursuit of this program reflects its commitment to bolster mental health support for dentists.
2nd McKean Smith LLC – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Vancouver) – 35 Employees
150 to 999 Employees
1st Andersen Construction – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Seattle) – 847 Employees
Andersen Construction was founded in 1950 and is currently building in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and California. Andersen excels in technically challenging projects, utilizing the latest technology and management trends in construction. Andersen’s diverse portfolio includes educational, mixed-use, healthcare, research, multi-family housing, commercial offices, industrial, mission-critical, retail, parking, institutional, places of worship, and entertainment facilities.
In 2022, Andersen made history in the construction industry by implementing a 4-day workweek for its entire workforce, a groundbreaking move in a traditionally resistant-to-change sector. The program prioritizes the impact of free time on overall health and well-being, benefiting both office staff and job site workers. Despite industry norms, the program has demonstrated increased efficiency and productivity, with a primary focus on improving employee happiness. A survey conducted in February 2023 revealed that over 80% of employees experienced a positive shift in their work experience with the transition from a traditional 5-day workweek to the innovative 4-day model.
Andersen prioritizes the safety and mental well-being of employees in the construction industry, recognizing the close connection between mental health and safety. As part of Construction Safety Week in 2022, Andersen took a proactive approach by leading an Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping workshop on one of its job sites. EFT is an alternative wellness technique that involves tapping on specific pressure points to alleviate emotional stress. The company ensures year-round access to suicide prevention and mental health hotlines for all employees and provides video and reading materials on mental health, with particular emphasis on Mental Health Month. The commitment to mental health is evident through ongoing initiatives and resources offered by Andersen.
2nd PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc. – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Seattle, Spokane) – 355 Employees
3rd The Partners Group – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Renton) – 204 Employees
4th David Evans and Associates, Inc. – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Bellevue) – 880 Employees
1000 to 4999 Employees
1st Northwest Permanente PC – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Vancouver) – 1,504 Employees
Northwest Permanente is patient-centered, high-quality, physician-led care that embraces proven innovations in medicine and is supported by Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care delivery model to deliver the best of care with compassion and humanity.
The Northwest Permanente Personal Development Coaching Program aims to reduce employee stress by challenging limited thinking and beliefs. Unlike traditional wellness approaches focused on individual resilience or therapy, coaching intervenes to enhance daily mental functioning, recognizing clients as creative and resourceful. The program features physician coaches certified by the NeuroLeadership Institute, with scholarships repaid through coaching services. These services are provided free of charge and include 1:1 or group sessions scheduled monthly. Post-coaching surveys indicate 100% participant satisfaction, aligning with the dual program goals of stress management and professional development for those interested in coaching certification.
Locally, a bi-monthly initiative called Campfire Circles provides physicians with a psychologically safe space to share traumatic moments from their medical careers. These sessions offer a rare outlet for physicians to process and express the grief associated with daily exposure to human suffering. About 97% of participants felt psychologically safe to share stressors, with many stating that Campfire Circles provided their first opportunity in their medical careers to openly discuss the distressing aspects of being a physician.
On a state level, Northwest Permanente is actively leading an effort to remove intrusive mental health questions from licensure and credentialing applications. Recognizing clinicians' fear of seeking mental health care due to potential negative consequences, the initiative aims to replace disclosure requirements with an Attestation Model, using supportive language around mental health and providing non-reporting options for physicians seeking care. The goal is to create a more compassionate and understanding approach to mental health within the medical profession.
2nd Cambia Health Solutions – Portland, Oregon (Local Office: Seattle) – 4,479 Employees
3rd Syngenta – Greensboro, North Carolina (Local Office: Pasco) – 4,435 Employees
4th Essex Property Trust, Inc. – San Mateo, California (Local Office: Bellevue) – 1,774 Employees
5,000+ Employees
1st PeaceHealth – Vancouver – 13,852 Employees
PeaceHealth is a 130-year-old Catholic healthcare ministry and is one of the largest healthcare systems in the Northwest. PeaceHealth has more than 16,000 employees, known internally as caregivers, who support their mission to enhance the health and wellness of the communities they serve.
In October 2022, PeaceHealth expanded its comprehensive health package by introducing a Student Loan Repayment Program to support the mental, spiritual, physical, and financial health of caregivers. The program provides a monthly allocation of $400 ($200/month for part-time employees) for individuals in roles requiring an RN degree to repay student loans. This new benefit, coupled with PeaceHealth's existing tuition assistance program, has already achieved significant success in its first six months. Among 4,848 eligible participants, 22% have utilized the program, easing the financial burden of educational loans and enabling them to focus on their vital work. This initiative acknowledges the essential role nurses play in the organization, serving as advocates, innovators, educators, and leaders, while providing compassionate patient-focused care.
Their "Care for the Caregiver" program, introduced last year, incorporates in-house psychological and spiritual care resources along with Spring Health, an employee assistance program vendor. Mental health importance is emphasized in the new hire orientation. In partnership with Spring Health, caregivers and their family members receive eight free, confidential sessions per year with a therapist or coach, with an impressive 26% total enrollment increase in 2022. New additions for 2023 include small group sessions, a "Moments" feature for on-demand guidance, a stress management webinar series, and healing sessions within the Spiritual Care program. Monthly Schwartz Rounds and on-site psychologists further support caregiver well-being, demonstrating PeaceHealth's commitment to addressing the unique needs of its caregivers.
2nd U-Haul International – Phoenix, Arizona (Multiple Local Offices) – 17,170 Employees
3rd Ericsson – Plano, Texas (Local Office: Bellevue) – 7,914 Employees
4th HP Inc. – Palo Alto, California (Local Office: Vancouver) – 13,700 Employees
5th CBIZ – Cleveland, Ohio (Local Office: Mill Creek) – 6,471 Employees
