October 29, 2024
Healthiest Employers® was started in 2009 to celebrate companies that prioritize their people by investing in their employees' health. In partnership with Springbuk, we are pleased to announce the 2024 Healthiest Employers of Greater D.C. & Baltimore.
Each company filled out our annual Healthiest Employers application. The responses are scored using a rubric-style 1-100 scale. The assessment consists of six categories, with yes/no, multiple-choice, and short-answer questions, each totaling .25-3 points. A Healthiest Employers Index (HEI) is assigned to each application to help rank among companies of similar sizes. Please visit our methodology page here for information on how the applications are scored.
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, a heavily discussed topic has been whether to return to the traditional office or stay on a hybrid/remote work model. Our applicants in the Triad:
- 14.3% work completely in the office or on-site
- 28.6% report that they are on a hybrid schedule with certain days/times in the office
- 50.0% only provide specific roles or teams with work-from-home opportunities
- 7.1% are considered a fully remote workforce with no required days in the office
Congratulations to all of our winners this year! Please note that employee counts are based on their national full-time employee count. Write-ups were only conducted on the top winner in each category.
50 to 499 Employees
1st MRIGlobal
Kansas City, Missouri (Local Office: Gaithersburg)
405 Employees
MRIGlobal is dedicated to enhancing lives through innovative scientific and engineering research, addressing critical global challenges for nearly 80 years. Specializing in national defense, global health, medical countermeasures, and pharmaceutical development, the organization offers contract research, product testing, and management services for government and industry. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, with offices in Maryland and Virginia, MRIGlobal also operates research facilities for the Department of Energy and Department of Defense, including managing the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Committed to community involvement, MRIGlobal fosters partnerships and supports STEM educational outreach to address complex issues.
MRIGlobal stands out for its Menopause Benefit, introduced in partnership with the Midday App in September 2023, to support healthy aging and address menopause—a commonly overlooked aspect of women's health in the workplace. Targeting a group of 153 eligible individuals, including employees and dependents, this program provides tailored resources and care. An 11% engagement rate has demonstrated significant workforce interest within four months. Of those engaged, 88% utilized program resources, 56% consulted personal coaches, and 78% used wearable devices, reflecting proactive health management. With a 16% average reduction in menopause symptoms among users, the program underscores MRIGlobal’s commitment to employee well-being.
MRIGlobal’s 403(b) Retirement Plan, with 97% employee participation and top 10% national performance, provides a robust foundation for financial security. Additionally, 18% of employees benefit from Savi, a service that helps navigate Public Service Loan Forgiveness and streamline student loan repayment. As a 503(c) nonprofit, MRIGlobal is uniquely positioned for these programs, with $2.65 million in projected student loan forgiveness to date, offering a substantial advantage to its workforce.
“Our commitment to the well-being of MRIGlobal staff is essential to creating an engaging and productive work environment. This past year, we focused on creating high-value innovations to support employees across their many seasons of life. This included contributions to cover the cost of gym memberships, increasing our higher education tuition reimbursement, and launching an app that offers personalized insights into the experiences of menopause. These and other investments help create an environment where employees can perform at a high level and contribute to the success of the company.” –Luke McGlynn, Chief People Officer
2nd B&A – McLean, Virginia (Local Office: Bethesda) – 162 Employees
3rd Aimco – Denver, Colorado (Local Office: Washington, D.C.) – 58 Employees
500 to 1,499 Employees
1st Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Washington, D.C.
1,360 Employees
Akin is an elite law firm with 900+ lawyers and advisors who pride themselves on their dedication to their clients and communities. With 17 offices worldwide, the firm is renowned for numerous market-leading practices, strengths in complex transactions and restructurings, high-stakes litigation, public policy and regulatory matters, and unyielding pro bono commitment.
The firm has long prioritized mental health and well-being in the legal industry, predating its involvement as an inaugural signatory to the American Bar Association's Well-Being Pledge in 2018. Their Mental Health Advisor program exemplifies this commitment, offering onsite and virtual counseling sessions paid for by the firm to address personal and professional concerns. Recently expanded with two additional advisors in Texas, the program now provides coverage across offices in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, and Texas, available Mondays through Thursdays nationwide. In 2023, 141 unique participants engaged with the service, with 69% being new users, demonstrating ongoing acceptance and promotion within the firm. They continue to advocate for mental well-being in the legal sector through initiatives like One Mind at Work's legal vertical, with their Chief Human Resources Officer actively promoting progress in this area among peers.
“Incorporating scheduled mini breaks into my day has been instrumental in maintaining an active lifestyle. By blocking off time on my calendar and prioritizing these breaks, I ensure I stay moving and refreshed. Whether it’s a brisk 5-minute walk or opting for the stairs instead of the elevator, these small actions contribute significantly to reaching my goals and keeping me energized. Dedicating time to self-care and personal well-being has transformed my approach to an active lifestyle.” –Business Services Professional
2nd AIR Communities – Denver, Colorado (Local Office: Bethesda) – 776 Employees
3rd Walker & Dunlop – Bethesda – 1,391 Employees
4th Gentle Giant Moving Company – Winchester, Massachusetts (Local Office: Washington, D.C.) – 572 Employees
1,500 to 4,999 Employees
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1st Gilbane
Providence, Rhode Island (Local Offices: Arlington, Baltimore)
3,100 Employees
Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Providence, RI, Gilbane Inc. is one of the largest privately held, family-owned companies in the construction, real estate development, and facility management services industry.
Gilbane Inc. recognizes that overall well-being encompasses more than just physical health, emphasizing the importance of mental, emotional, financial, occupational, intellectual, and spiritual health. Through the Wellness Champion network, employees are encouraged to establish relationships with primary care physicians, schedule annual wellness visits, and utilize resources on the Benefits Portal for preventive care. By the end of 2023, 66% of employees earned a discount on their medical premiums for 2024 through the completion of various wellness-related activities.
In 2023, Gilbane introduced wellness activities such as Daily Habits, Health Coaching, and updated company-wide challenges to engage employees year-round. Employees who participated in Health Coaching reported positive experiences. These initiatives, along with an expanded range of resources including Musculoskeletal Solutions, Family Formation Benefits, Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Management Programs, Financial Wellness Resources, and Health Coaching Webinars, highlight Gilbane's commitment to promoting healthy choices and outcomes for employees and their families.
“In line with our people first strategy and our culture of caring, we continue to look at opportunities to enhance our benefit offerings for our employees and their families.” –Katherine Johnson, Chief Human Resources Officer
2nd West Monroe – Chicago, Illinois (Local Office: McLean) – 1,798 Employees
3rd Venable, LLP – Baltimore – 1,698 Employees
4th Element Fleet Corporation – Owings Mills – 1,700 Employees
5,000+ Employees
1st CBIZ
Cleveland, Ohio (Local Office: Cumberland)
6,841 Employees
CBIZ provides professional business services in two main areas: accounting, tax, and advisory services, as well as benefits and insurance services. Combining national-level expertise with personalized local service, CBIZ operates through 100 offices with over 6,000 team members across the U.S., serving organizations of all sizes and individual clients. Their financial services include accounting, tax, financial advisory, valuation, litigation support, risk and advisory, real estate advisory, and government healthcare consulting. In the benefits and insurance sector, CBIZ offers group health benefits consulting, payroll, HRIS technology, property and casualty, retirement plan consulting, and talent and compensation services.
As part of its commitment to providing exceptional benefits, the organization introduced an enhanced level of support for the 2023 plan year through Care Coordination via Accolade. So far, 83% of team members have utilized the Accolade platform, which assists them in finding in-network providers, answering coverage questions, and providing information about available plan options. The platform also serves as a central portal for team members to access their information independently. One of the most valued services is the dedicated health assistants, who offer personalized support for complex medical concerns, enhancing the level of assistance previously available.
The CBIZ Wellbeing Program is designed to support team members in five specific areas: physical and emotional health, community engagement, financial well-being, social connections, and sense of purpose. In terms of physical and emotional health, CBIZ provides a comprehensive suite of health and wellness benefits, including the introduction of Accolade as a care coordinator for the 2023 plan year. Accolade assists team members with complex medical conditions, offers virtual nursing support, and provides information about the benefits plan. The new CBIZ Wellbeing Program, administered through WellRight, allows all team members to participate and earn points toward discounts on medical premiums or entries into prize drawings.
For community engagement, CBIZ encourages team members to volunteer through the CBIZ Cares program, which allows up to 8 hours of paid volunteer time annually. Financially, the company offers a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match, including both standard and Roth options, as well as a self-directed account for more experienced investors. Additionally, team members can participate in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which offers shares of CBIZ stock at a 15% discount.
“CBIZ continues to experience record growth and as we grow our business, we likewise continue to prioritize and invest in the health and wellbeing of our team members. We strive every day to bring one of our key core values, ‘Our People Matter,’ to life. In addition to our focus on well-being, we’ve made critical strides in strengthening our award-winning culture including the expansion of our Employee Resource Group offerings, which help to build community across our company and create new opportunities for our team members to connect and support each other. For the coming year, we plan to build on this progress and align more incentives to encourage more team members to take full advantage of these valuable resources and opportunities.” –Elizabeth Newman, Chief Human Resources Officer
2nd U-Haul International – Phoenix, Arizona (Multiple Local Offices) – 16,371 Employees
3rd Bon Secours Mercy Health – Cincinnati, Ohio (Local Office: Baltimore) – 42,785
Employees
4th Burns & McDonnell – Kansas City, Missouri (Local Office: Arlington) – 9,946 Employees
5th Montgomery County Public Schools – Rockville – 24,907 Employees
