Mid-sized Iowa-based employers clean up in national Top Workplaces awards

Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register
·3 min read

Iowa workplaces ― especially home-grown, mid-sized companies ― made a strong showing in the third annual Top Workplaces USA Awards for 2023.

In the newly announced nationwide awards, seven employers previously recognized by the Des Moines Register as Iowa Top Workplaces ranked in the top 100 nationally in the 500-to-999-employee range.

Leading the way in fifth place was GreenState Credit Union, which won recognition as No. 1 among large employers in the Iowa Top Workplaces awards in both 2022 and 2023 (the national award criteria use different size classes).

Recognition in state and local awards leads to invitations to select employers to enter the national awards program. Energage, which partners with the Register in the Iowa Top Workplaces awards, bases the recognition on employee responses in anonymous surveys about subjects including work-life balance, values, training, communication and leadership, which employees of North Liberty-based GreenState consistently lauded.

Top Workplaces 2023
Top Workplaces 2023

Also in the top tier:

  • No. 24 LCS, a Des Moines based-developer and operator of senior living communities.

  • No. 36 Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa of West Des Moines

  • No. 75 Grinnell Mutual.

  • No. 90 F&G Annuities & Life of Des Moines.

  • No. 96 Van Meter of Cedar Rapids, a multistate electrical and automation products and contracting company.

  • No. 100 Arnold Motor Supply of Spencer, a Midwestern chain of auto parts stores.

Previously:Nearly 40 Iowa employers recognized as 2022 Top Workplaces USA announced

In other size categories, prior Iowa's Top Workplaces winners receiving top recognition among very large companies (2,500-plus employees) were:

  • No. 23 Panda Restaurant Co. of Rosemead, California.

  • No. 24 Kwik Trip Inc. of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

  • No. 81 Lithia & Driveway of Medford, Oregon, a multistate chain of automobile dealerships.

  • No. 88 The Auto Club Group of Dearborn, Michigan, better known as AAA.

Making the top 100 among large companies (1,000-2,499 employees) was No. 72 the Baker Group, an Ankeny-based commercial and industrial contractor.

More:Iowa's Top Workplaces recognition draws increased interest in wake of Great Resignation

In the top 100 for small employers (150-499 employees) were:

  • No. 27 Compass Memorial Healthcare of Marengo.

  • No. 42 Boomerange of Anamosa, a heavy construction and civil engineering firm.

  • No. 43 Clickstop of Urbana, a diversified company.

  • No. 98 Access Systems of Waukee, an information technology, telephone system, data security and printing provider.

Altogether, 3,300 companies, invited from among winners of Top Workplaces recognition in states and cities across the United States, were in the running for the national awards, and 1,272 won recognition.

“Being an employer of choice through a recognition program, especially in this environment, is key," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "It’s paramount that employers differentiate themselves as an employer of choice. We really need workplaces that inspire employees. You have to really acknowledge employees genuinely and consistently.”

Previously:Employee communication key to GreenState's success in Top Workplaces awards

Top Workplaces 2023
Top Workplaces 2023

Time to enter Iowa Top Workplaces 2023

Nominations for the 2023 Iowa's Top Workplaces awards are now open. Any Iowa organization — business, nonprofit or government — with 35 or more employees is eligible to participate.

Awards are given in small-, medium- and large-workplace categories. Some 2,332 employers were invited to take part in the 2022 surveys, and 202 participated. Nearly 32,000 employees responded to the questionnaires.

It's free, although employers can gain invaluable information and further demonstrate their commitment to employee feedback by contracting with Energage for more detailed evaluations. The company conducts Top Workplaces surveys in 61 U.S. media markets and received responses from more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 workplaces in the past year.

Anyone — an employer, employee or even a customer — may submit a nomination. It's easy to participate. Simply go to DesMoinesRegister.com/Nominate to get started, or call (515) 598-7192.

Nominate your top workplace. The deadline is Feb. 17, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa employers have strong showing in Top Workplaces USA awards