When it comes to the best places to work in Jacksonville and on the First Coast, the ability to tap into diversity and the new-found impact of a remote workforce are key elements to rising to the top of employers.

Mid-sized and small companies who made the cut of the Florida Times-Union top places to have a job are entirely aware that an ability to immediately respond to worker concerns and an eye on workplace pride are crucial. Ultimately, pride in the place you work can go a long way that doesn’t necessarily end up being contingent solely on money.

The Jacksonville Jaguars came in third place in our list of best places to work for mid-sized companies in the city. With a wild turnaround for the team on the field comes a substantial difference in satisfaction for many staff workers for the organization, according to Jaguars President Mark Lamping.

See the list:Metro Jacksonville Top Workplaces 2023

“I think this is the case across Jacksonville – particularly younger employees these days – I think they want to feel proud of the company that they work for. That’s judged in a lot of different ways and one way I think is the impact the company makes in the community,” Lamping said.

MedAxiom, a Neptune Beach-based financial and staff management company for cardiology clinics and practices, ended up with top honors in the small business category in the Times-Union best places to work list. MedAxiom Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communication Kim Kaylor said that flexibility offered to workers coupled with consideration toward empowerment is the key to a successful workplace.

“In the organization, everybody is really empowered to make decisions, to be leaders at every level of the organization. We’re a very nimble company even as we get bigger and bigger. We don’t get stuck in all that hierarchy where we don’t get things done. It’s a very rewarding culture,” Kaylor said.

Fifth Third Bank in Jacksonville also ended up in the top 10 of the best small businesses list. Officials with the bank said since it was founded in 1858, they’ve always been at the forefront of innovation and that translates into employees who are happy to work there.

“Our list of famous firsts is long, but it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, differentiated person-to-person services and focused community impact,” according to a company statement after being informed Fifth Third was named among the best places to work in Jacksonville.

At Beeline Inc., a technology firm in Southern Jacksonville that connects companies with gig-economy contract workers and named the best place to work among mid-sized companies, the company points to flexibility as their top quality. Beeline CEO Doug Leeby, said these days, companies have to be able to adjust on the fly. Workers have more input than ever.

“We’re very employee-centric. We’re still garnering feedback from them to get a sense from them as to what ‘ideal’ looks like to them. What is clear to us is people are not coming back [to the physical office] fulltime. Remote is here to stay,” Leeby said.

Lamping agreed and in a year where the Jaguars came out of nowhere and against the odds to make the NFL playoffs, the employees are key to all success.

“We are committed to a continuous focus on our employees. We have a really high level of respect for the role each and every one of our employees play and their contributions to the overall success to the company,” Lamping said

Lamping cited a robust benefits program and an effort to develop employees and provide opportunities for advancement and mobility within the organization as a main contribution to the organization.

Meanwhile, Lamping said he foresees Jacksonville as a place that will continue to evolve and become only a better work ecosystem in general as the changes pick up in pace.

“I think we’re in a position as a community to take full advantage of what’s transpired over the past few years as it relates to what seems to be an increased migration of high-quality employees into Northeast Florida driven somewhat by the opportunity for employees to work remotely,” Lamping said.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Survey recognizes top-rated workplaces on the First Coast