Forbes ranks Health First as among nation’s top 500 employers in USA

Forbes magazine’s latest list of the best employers among companies with more than 5,000 employees has a local component: Rockledge-based Health First Inc. made the list, checking in at No. 407.

The list is based on online surveys of more than 60,000 U.S. employees. The surveys were anonymous, so participants could openly share their opinions. All U.S. companies in the employment count category were eligible for the recognition.

Forbes partnered with market research company Statista for the survey, which asked employees in 25 industries questions about compensation, development opportunities, working conditions, diversity and company image. Participants also were asked to rate their likelihood to recommend their employer to friends and family, and to evaluate other employers in their industry that stood out either positively or negatively. 

Health First was one of 17 Florida-based companies and one of 48 hospital or health care systems on the list. It was the only Brevard-based company on the list.

The top-ranked employer was The Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia. No. 2 was the Southern Co., a utility holding company. The top-ranked company with a local connection was NASA, at No. 3.

Health First expands:through joint venture with Melbourne’s Crane Creek Surgery Center

Brevard hospitals:Brevard hospitals end some COVID-19 restrictions, as case counts drop

Among other technology companies with Brevard connections high on the list were Lockheed Martin (No. 41), SpaceX (No. 88) and Northrop Grumman (No. 90).

FPL parent company NextEra Energy was ranked No. 125, Publix was No. 168,  Disney was No. 273 and SeaWorld was No. 377.

In discussing the survey results in an accompanying article, Forbes staff writer Samantha Todd said one of the surprises was the strong performance of health care companies. This category made up about one-quarter of the top 50 on the list and half of the top 10, despite issues of burnout exacerbated during the pandemic.

The overall survey found that many hospital workers said they were performing purposeful work that fulfilled them, Todd noted.