Model Employers

Can a hospital be one of the top employers in the country? You bet! Seven American healthcare providers made it onto Fortune magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For." In order of their ranking on the "100 Best Companies" list, these seven hospitals are: Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut; Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Florida; Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois; Baptist Health South Florida in Coral Gables, Florida; the Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia; the Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo, Michigan; and The Methodist Hospital System in Houston, Texas.

Similarly, Macleans magazine's list of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" features three hospitals: The University Health Network in Toronto, Ontario; the Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation in Hamilton, Ontario.

Here are some of the policies and practices that have helped these hospitals attract staff, inspire loyalty, and become enviable places to work.

Childcare

Onsite childcare is offered by all three hospitals on "Canada's Top 100 Employers" list. Similarly, 33 of Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies also offered onsite childcare services. Toronto's University Health Network even offers 24-hour daycare to meet the needs of night shift workers, while Winnipeg's Seven Oaks General Hospital goes the extra mile to provide spring break and summer day camp programs for the children of employees.

For adoptive parents, the Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia, offers up to $5,000 in aid, and Baptist Health South Florida offers up to $4,000, to help out new parents.

Education Reimbursement and Training

Many top workplaces offer generous tuitions subsidies. For example, Hamilton's Health Sciences Corporation offers up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement and Savannah's Memorial Health University Medical Center offers up to $4,200.

At Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, new employees wear an ID badge sticker for 90 days so that senior coworkers can offer them help and support.

The Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo leads the pack in professional development, and offers 95 hours of professional training per year.

Work-Life Balance

The Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights offers many flex-time options for employees, including compressed work weeks, weekend shifts, and flexible hours that add up to nine or 10 workdays every two weeks.

To help employees stay fit, some employers offer onsite gyms and lunchtime classes. Baptist Health South Florida in Coral Gables, goes a step further by creating a comprehensive Wellness Advantage Program that includes free fitness facilities, healthy meals on-site, fitness coaches, and reimbursement for smoking cessation and Weight Watchers expenses.

Benefits and Perks

The Methodist Hospital System in Houston rewards its top 20 employees with their choice of a week's paid vacation or a $1,000 bonus.

Savannah's Memorial Health University Medical Center offers excellent benefits, including a 3%-of-pay contribution to employees' 401(k) retirement savings plans.

The Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo offers up to $10,000 in interest-free loans for employees who buy houses in several areas near the hospital that are undergoing revitalization.

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