Press Release

Business Group on Health Honors 56 Companies With Best Employers Award: Excellence in Health & Well-being

Issued by Business Group on Health

Apr. 22, 2026

NEW ORLEANS — Fifty-six employers were honored with the renowned Business Group on Health Best Employers Award: Excellence in Health & Well-being, for their outstanding commitment to advancing employee well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits and initiatives.

The awards, now in their 21st year, were announced yesterday in New Orleans at Business Group on Health’s 2026 Annual Conference.

The winners represent banking/financial services, health care, insurance, manufacturing, professional services, technology and utilities, among other fields. A full list of winners appears below and is available here.

“Each of the 56 honorees has helped to redefine how companies advance well-being, setting a higher standard for comprehensive, innovative support that truly meets the evolving needs of today’s workforce,” said Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of Business Group on Health. “These employers have shown how employee well-being can drive meaningful outcomes for both people and organizations. We congratulate all of the winners.”

The award criteria assess applicants on their ability to achieve impact across five categories: leadership, culture and well-being strategy; holistic well-being, including mental health, financial well-being, social connectedness, job satisfaction, flexibility and time away; engagement and the employee experience; health inclusion and social determinants; and metrics and evaluation.

“The 2026 awardees demonstrate what’s possible when employers commit to advancing comprehensive health and well-being programs,” said Pamela Rich, Business Group vice president. “Kudos to all the winners.”

Some of the 56 employers received additional recognition in three categories: Excellence in Mental Health, Excellence in Health Inclusion and Excellence in Global Health & Well-being. Employers were able to earn additional accolades in multiple categories.

The 16 winners recognized for Excellence in Mental Health demonstrated concrete impact for their workforces. They also all took a holistic approach to benefits, programs and policies that address the continuum of mental health needs.

The 15 winners honored for Excellence in Health Inclusion sought to ensure that all employees had the opportunity to reach their full health potential. They worked to broaden inclusive programs and benefits, to close health disparities and to advance population health.

The 14 employers recognized for Excellence in Global Health & Well-being deftly navigated challenges as they met the diverse needs of employees in multiple countries. These employers have meaningful approaches that are either globally consistent or locally tailored, accounting for distinct cultural differences in connection with health and well-being.

Applicants for the Best Employers Award do not have to be members of the Business Group. Entries are reviewed by a panel of peer employer judges and Business Group staff members, using a data-driven review process. Applications for the 2027 Best Employers Award will be open in fall 2026.

2026 Winners of Business Group on Health Best Employers Award: Excellence in Health & Well-being

Accenture

Adobe Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health

American Express Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

AXA XL

Bain & Company Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Bank of America

BD Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Additional citation: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

Bon Secours Mercy Health

Cardinal Health

Chevron

Choice Hotels International

CNO Financial Group Additional citation: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

Compass Group USA

CVS Health

Dell Technologies Additional citation: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award; Excellence in Mental Health Award

DTE Energy

Elevance Health

EY US Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award

General Motors

Hearst Additional citation: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

HII Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award

HP

Humana

IDEXX Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Jones Lang LaSalle

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Kaiser Permanente

KeyBank

Koch

Kyndryl Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Labcorp

McKinsey & Company

Merck & Co., Inc. Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award

Morgan Stanley Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Nationwide Insurance

Navy Federal Credit Union Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award

Nestlé in the U.S. Additional citations: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

NextEra Energy, Inc. Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

Nielsen Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

NYU Langone Health

PepsiCo, Inc. Additional citation: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

PwC Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

Quantum Health

Sanofi

Stellantis Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Takeda Additional citation: Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

Target

TD

Texas Health Resources Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

The Cigna Group Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

Unilever Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award; Excellence in Global Health & Well-being Award

UnitedHealth Group Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award; Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

University of Virginia Additional citation: Excellence in Mental Health Award

Unum Group

UPMC Additional citation: Excellence in Health Inclusion Award

About Business Group on Health

Business Group on Health is the leading non-profit organization representing large employers’ perspectives on optimizing workforce strategy through innovative health, benefits and well-being solutions and on health policy issues. The Business Group keeps its membership informed of leading-edge thinking and action on health care cost and delivery, financing, affordability and experience with the health care system. Business Group members include the majority of Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized companies, as well as large public-sector employers, which collectively provide health and well-being programs for more than 60 million individuals in 200 countries. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.

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