Workplace wellness is all the rage these days, but a few companies are taking it to the next level by providing employees with truly stellar health and wellness benefits. At today’s Healthiest Employers Awards, presented by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, those companies earned accolades for their efforts.



Taking the first place award in the small company category (2-99 employees) for the third year in a row was Norcross-based commercial real estate agency Meadows & Ohly, which focuses, appropriately, on healthcare real estate. The company runs an annual Biggest Loser-style weight loss and exercise competition and also runs a “Do Hard Things” program that encourages employees and their families to participate in long-distance runs and triathlons, offers discounted YMCA memberships, and has formed running and walking groups. They have a tobacco-free workplace policy, provide healthy snacks and lunches, and keep health insurance costs low for employees. Meadows & Ohly HR Director Kristen Breedlove told the ABC, “We have learned that if you make it fun, more people will want to participate. Be creative. You don’t need a large budget to have a successful wellness program.”

In the medium company division (100-499 employees), Winter Construction took top honors with a company-wide wellness program that delivers perks like race entry reimbursement and free Fitbit fitness trackers, plus and regular outings and activities such as bowling, golf tournaments, and softball and kickball teams.

And the top large company (500+ employees) was Jackson Healthcare, which features its own organic garden on its Alpharetta campus for employee meals in its “farm to fork” café and fresh fruit snacks in the break room. The healthcare company also has an onsite health club where employees can earn prizes for being active, a koi pond for stress relief, a nine-hole mini golf course, an intensive “Live Well” health initiative, and incentives for activities such as 5Ks. Check out that garden, below: