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Chamber Unveils Rankings for Top 100 Best Places to Work in Indiana

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These companies made people the priority in their workplaces with policies and practices geared toward employee satisfaction and success. And tonight, they were honored as the top 100 companies on the 2017 Best Places to Work in Indiana list.

Winners were selected in four categories. Taking top honors:

  • Small companies’ category (between 15 and 74 U.S. employees): Luther Consulting, LLC, a Carmel-based public health software company
  • Medium companies’ category (between 75 and 249 U.S. employees): Gregory & Appel Insurance, property and casualty risk management and employee benefit firm in Indianapolis
  • Large companies’ category (between 250 and 999 U.S. employees): Indianapolis-based Blue 449, an open source media company
  • Major companies’ category (1,000 or more U.S. employees): technology giant Microsoft Corporation, which has a local office in Indianapolis

Both Luther Consulting and Microsoft are repeats; this marks a record sixth time for Microsoft to take top honors. Meanwhile, Gregory & Appel Insurance and Blue 449 make their first-place debut.

“These four companies excel in respecting their employees, providing them with the tools to be successful and offering careers – not just jobs,” states Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.

“Every company on this list understands the positive business impact of making employees feel valued. We are pleased to recognize them for such model work environments.”

Winners were sorted into four categories: small, medium, large and major companies. Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.

The 2017 Best Place to Work in Indiana companies range in Hoosier employee count from 15 (SMARI, a consulting firm in Indianapolis) to more than 1,700 (Horseshoe Casino in Hammond).

At the dinner, presented in partnership with Hylant, representatives from all designated companies received Best Places to Work awards of excellence.

Organizations on this year’s list that have displayed sustained excellence during the program’s 12-year history received additional recognition with Best Places to Work in Indiana Hall of Fame and Pinnacle designations.

Hall of Fame companies are those that have been named a Best Place to Work in Indiana at least two-thirds of the time in the program’s history; a total of 15 organizations on the 2017 list meet that criteria. Two companies – Edward Jones and Katz, Sapper & Miller – have made the Best Places to Work list all 12 years of the program.

The Pinnacle designation is reserved for those that have finished first in their category three or more times in a five-year period. The four Pinnacle companies are Edward Jones (tops in the large employer category from 2006-2008); Hollingsworth & Zivitz, P.C. (first in the small employer category from 2011-2014); Microsoft (tops in the major employer category in 2013-2014, 2016-2017 and in the large employer category in 2011-2012); and Sikich LLP (first in the large employer category from 2013-15).

More information about the Best Places to Work companies is available via a special section of the May/June issue of the Indiana Chamber’s BizVoice® magazine, a statewide publication released tonight and accessible online at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

Other program partners are Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, the Best Companies Group, Indiana State Council of SHRM and the Wellness Council of Indiana.

In addition to Hylant, Best Places to Work in Indiana is sponsored by: Moser Consulting; Eaton Corporation; Hancock Regional Hospital; Human Capital Concepts; OurHealth; and Smithville.

The Best Places organizations were determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. The Best Companies Group, which handled the selection process, oversees similar programs in 29 other states.

All companies that participated in the 2017 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.

For more information on the Indiana Chamber’s Best Places to Work program, go to www.bestplacestoworkIN.com.

The full list of the 2017 Best Places to Work in Indiana companies by ranking:
*Hall of Fame companies

**Pinnacle companies

Small Companies (15-74 U.S. employees)
Company / Primary Indiana Location
1. Luther Consulting, LLC / Carmel
2. SMARI / Indianapolis
3. E-gineering / Indianapolis
4. JA Benefits, LLC / Bedford
5. DK Pierce / Zionsville
6. American Income Life Indiana / Indianapolis
7. Indiana CPA Society / Indianapolis
8. eimagine / Indianapolis
9. Hanapin Marketing / Bloomington
10. Cripe / Indianapolis
11. mAccounting, LLC / Indianapolis
12. Jackson Systems / Indianapolis
13. Leaf Software Solutions / Carmel
14. Lakeside Wealth Management / Chesterton
15. University High School of Indiana / Carmel
16. CleanSlate Technology Group / Carmel
17. Visit Indy / Indianapolis
18. Bloomerang / Indianapolis
19. Weddle Bros. Construction Co., Inc. / Bloomington
20. Williams Creek / Indianapolis
21. The Skillman Corporation / Indianapolis
22. Magnum Logistics, Inc. / Plainfield
23. Pondurance / Indianapolis
24. Lessonly / Indianapolis
25. Apex Benefits / Indianapolis
26. Schmidt Associates* / Indianapolis
27. Indesign, LLC* / Indianapolis
28. Delivra, Inc. / Indianapolis
29. Community First Bank of Indiana / Kokomo
30. BLASTmedia / Fishers
31. Inovateus Solar LLC / South Bend
32. LHD Benefit Advisors / Indianapolis
33. Grote Automotive Inc. / Fort Wayne
34. CENTURY 21 Scheetz / Multiple locations
35. Sharpen / Indianapolis
36. netlogx LLC / Indianapolis
37. Oak Street Funding LLC / Indianapolis
38. Emarsys North America / Indianapolis
39. FirstPerson / Indianapolis
40. T&W Corporation / Indianapolis
41. General Insurance Services / Michigan City
42. VOSS Automotive / Fort Wayne
43. Conner Insurance / Indianapolis
44. Peepers by PeeperSpecs / Michigan City
45. OfficeWorks / Fishers
46. Ambassador Enterprises / Fort Wayne
47. Network Solutions, Inc. / Granger
48. Goelzer Investment Management, Inc. / Indianapolis
49. Design Collaborative / Fort Wayne

Medium Companies (75-249 U.S. employees) (21)
1. Gregory & Appel Insurance / Indianapolis
2. Purdue Federal Credit Union / West Lafayette
3. National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) / Indianapolis
4. Software Engineering Professionals (SEP)* / Carmel
5. IDSolutions / Noblesville
6. American College of Education / Indianapolis
7. First Internet Bank / Fishers
8. Elements Financial Federal Credit Union / Indianapolis
9. Merchants Bank of Indiana and PR Mortgage & Investments / Carmel
10. J.C. Hart Company, Inc. / Carmel
11. Blue Horseshoe / Carmel
12. Allegient, LLC / Indianapolis
13. SkillStorm / Indianapolis
14. HWC Engineering, Inc. / Indianapolis
15. Sheridan Community Schools / Sheridan
16. Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of the Wabash Valley / Terre Haute
17. WestPoint Financial Group* / Indianapolis
18. Indiana Oxygen Company / Indianapolis
19. Moser Consulting, Incorporated / Indianapolis
20. PAN Performance Assessment Network / Carmel
21. Peoples Bank SB / Munster

Large Companies (250-999 U.S. employees) (19)
1. Blue 449 / Indianapolis
2. FORUM Credit Union / Fishers
3. Kemper CPA Group LLP / Multiple locations
4. Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP* / Indianapolis
5. Impact Networking / Indianapolis
6. Sikich LLP* ** / Indianapolis
7. SmartIT / Indianapolis
8. Duke Realty Corporation* / Indianapolis
9. Blue & Co., LLC* / Carmel
10. Hylant / Multiple locations
11. Hosparus Health / New Albany
12. Monarch Beverage / Indianapolis
13. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company* / Fort Wayne
14. Ontario Systems / Muncie
15. IPMG / West Lafayette
16. Traylor Bros., Inc. / Evansville
17. Centier Bank / Merrillville
18. AssuredPartners NL / New Albany
19. American Structurepoint, Inc. / Indianapolis

Major Companies (1,000+ U.S. employees) (11)
1. Microsoft Corporation* ** / Indianapolis
2. Edward Jones* ** / Statewide
3. Colliers International / Indianapolis
4. Horseshoe Casino / Hammond
5. Salesforce* / Indianapolis
6. Aerotek / Multiple locations
7. Blackboard, Inc. / Indianapolis
8. RCI* / Carmel
9. Turner Construction Company / Indianapolis
10. Capital Group* / Carmel
11. Cushman & Wakefield* / Indianapolis

Benefits Frustration Impacting Employees

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This is a guest post from Robert L. Miller, vice president and senior consultant at Gregory & Appel Insurance. A longer version of this article first appeared in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Have employees reached the tipping point where higher health care costs have forced them to think seriously about jumping ship? According to national surveys, the answer is an emphatic yes.

According to the Ninth Annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends by MetLife, “This year’s findings reveal a work force that has grown more dissatisfied and disloyal, to the point where a startling one in three employees hopes to be working elsewhere in the next 12 months.”

The study also shows that, year after year, employees who are satisfied with their benefits (especially their health plans) are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. The more satisfied people are with their job, the higher the productivity levels and the less likely they become a turnover statistic.

Many employees are struggling to make ends meet with the rising costs of goods and services while their pay remains the same or marginally increased. The “affordability gap” is getting wider, according to the Towers Watson Health Care Cost Survey 2011.

This is an issue employers struggle with at every renewal. Employers pay 36% more for health care than they did just five years ago, and employees contribute over 45% percent more over the same period.

As the economy continues to pick up, top employees will keep an eye open for that next job that has better benefits at a lower cost for them. This will have a major impact on a business if it starts losing top talent.

Surveys have shown that employees in all age groups rate health care as their top concern. Yet employers continue to believe employees are loyal, and they do not appear tuned in to this potential flight risk. But as the economy recovers, there is evidence employees are more likely to seek other employment opportunities — especially as many are feeling frustrated in their jobs.

Employers must lower their health care cost and engage their work force to become partners in this ongoing struggle to control cost. Without significant changes to medical plans and getting employees more engaged, morale will continue to decline and bring productivity down with it.

This is not the time to lose sight of how benefits help with employee attraction, retention and productivity. Start communicating with employees about health care cost, what they can do to help costs and share the true cost of medical coverage.

Survey: Healthcare Benefit Costs Rising for Hoosiers

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Nyhart, Indiana’s largest independent actuarial and employee benefits consulting firm, released the results of the 2011 Indiana Healthcare Benefit Survey Tuesday at the Indiana Chamber’s 2011 Indiana Employee Benefits Seminar. The survey reached 215 employers across the state reflecting the benefit plans of 170,000+ Hoosier workers.

Findings include:

  • Healthcare benefit costs increased 6.9% (single coverage) and 8% (family coverage) in 2011.
  • The typical Hoosier is paying $105/mo. for single coverage and $417/mo. for family coverage. Indiana employers provide an average subsidy of $364/mo. for single coverage and $915/mo. for employees with family coverage.
  • For 2011, nearly one in five employers increased their deductible. Employees of those companies saw their deductible rise by 49 on average%.
  • Healthcare benefit costs are higher costs for Hoosiers than the national average.
  • When faced with a choice of cutting back benefits or shifting costs to employees, 44% of employers favor reducing benefits to maintaining cost levels while 18% favor passing cost increases on to employees.

“The survey reinforced what we’ve been observing in our practice – that employers are shifting to high deductible plans and looking for ways to put more of the healthcare costs on the shoulders of their employees as costs continue to escalate,” said healthcare actuary and lead researcher Randy Gomez, FSA. “The study of the survey confirms that in the future healthcare benefits will be treated as a commodity.”
 
The study was conducted in partnership with First Person Benefit Advisors, Gregory & Appel Insurance and Old National Insurance. The executive summary of the survey is available to all businesses for download online at www.nyhart.com/research/. Companies seeking to receive the entire 80+ page report including benchmarks by industry, geographic region and employee-count may do so if they commit to participating in the 2012 survey.