Colorado’s top workplaces realize that consistently being recognized by their employees for excellence requires more than paying a high salary.
The top employers prioritize employee engagement and work-life balance to retain and attract top talent.
They offer perks such as hybrid schedules, sabbaticals, training opportunities, and innovative technology to support their employees’ growth and well-being.
The following 21 companies have earned spots on The Denver Post’s Top Workplaces list for the past decade or more:
• Burns & McDonnell — 13 years
• Slalom — 13 years
• Charles Schwab — 12 years
• Edward Jones — 12 years
• Jefferson Center For Mental Health — 12 years
• Physician Health Partners — 12 years
• Weifield Group Contracting — 12 years
• AIR Communities — 11 years
• Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric — 11 years
• DaVita, Inc. — 11 years
• Madison & Company Properties — 11 years
• PorchLight Real Estate Group — 11 years
• Visiting Angels of Denver — 11 years
• Breckenridge Grand Vacations — 10 years
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions — 10 years
• Cornerstone Home Lending — 10 years
• Donor Alliance — 10 years
• Esler Companies — 10 years
• LONG Building Technologies — 10 years
• Rose Medical Center — 10 years
• Swinerton Builders — 10 years
Employee feedback
According to comments submitted by employees with their Top Workplaces surveys, they value their co-workers and appreciate feeling valued.
“My managers and teammates make me look forward to coming to work. I enjoy my time at work and feel like I’ve accomplished something by the end of the day, even when a job is difficult.” — AIR Communities employee
“I enjoy interacting with everyone at [Breckenridge Grand Vacations]. I see a mix of bottom-up and top-down management, which works well with productive dissent. Surrounded by talent and ambitious co-workers. We have a list of goals and a pathway to achievement.” — Breckenridge Grand Vacations employee
“Absolutely love everybody, and they feel so much more like a family than co-workers. We work hard but have fun doing it. The support from everybody is just so amazing, and when something comes up and you need to take the day off, someone will, without a doubt, cover you.” — Madison & Co. Properties employee
“I love my job at Slalom because I get to collaborate with talented, passionate teams to create meaningful impact for our clients. Our connected culture focused on authenticity and growth empowers me to build trusted relationships, take ownership over complex challenges, and celebrate milestones together.” — Slalom employee
“After 28 years, DaVita continues to see me as an individual and part of the Village. There are so many opportunities to grow and learn within the Company, and this is one of the many reasons I have stayed. The culture and transparency speak volumes as to the caring, commitment, and values within DaVita. The Company values feedback/input. It’s cool for teammates to see their ideas become reality. Their voice…our voice matters.” — DaVita employee
Keeping employees engaged
Employers recognize it is crucial to ensure that employees feel heard and valued. Part of that comes from offering ongoing training to show employees the importance of their work.
Breckenridge Grand Vacations, a real estate development and property management company, believes engagement is vital to recruiting, retaining, and developing talent.
“We periodically review our compensation and benefits packages to maintain our competitive advantage in the labor market,” said Rob Dollars, employee experience manager.
“That has helped us stay 95% staffed or better, companywide.”
Lindsay Marten, from Charles Schwab’s public relations team, said employees at the financial services company appreciate its culture and the ability to provide feedback through regular surveys.
The company also encourages a healthy work-life balance with a hybrid schedule that balances the importance of in-person interactions and personal responsibilities.
Schwab allows employees to take a 28-day sabbatical after every five years of service to spend time with family, travel, and reset.
Liliana Mendez, Madison & Co. Properties operations manager, said the real estate company prioritizes ongoing training and support for its agents.
“Our luxury marketing strategies set the standard in the industry, supported by a team of seasoned professionals and outstanding managing brokers who ensure seamless transactions. However, it’s our collaborative ‘We’ mindset that truly defines us, fostering teamwork, support, and shared success among our agents and clients alike.”
Binh Diep, Slalom Denver’s general manager, said the consulting company focuses on caring for its employees.
“When Slalom was created, we had a vision of being a place where people can truly grow the most in their careers, and we still take that very seriously,” he said.
“Whether it’s our focus on aligning our teams to meaningful work or our intentional approach to career development, we believe our people are our most powerful asset, and making sure we have their trust and partnership is crucial to the success of our business.”
Providing perks
Stephanie Joslin, AIR Communities corporate communications director, said its employees work best and stay longer when they understand the importance of the company’s work.
The company, which is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates apartment communities across the United States, also offers a benefits package that includes a parental leave program, childcare discounts, noontime office closures on summer Fridays, leadership development programs, and reimbursement of citizenship fees for teammates who become U.S. citizens.
“Providing homes is a high calling and one that deserves to be taken seriously with the utmost care and respect. We also know how important it is to reward our team for their efforts and support them as individuals,” Joslin said.
Breckenridge Grand Vacations offers remote work in some departments and provides benefits like team outings, ski and ride days, employee access to the company’s Ball Arena suite, and tickets to sporting events.
The DaVita headquarters in downtown Denver is seen in this 2013 file photo. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Recruiting
Whether hiring new employees to expand or to meet existing needs, top employers know they need to do more than place help wanted ads.
DaVita, a health care company that provides kidney dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure, is working to address the ongoing nursing shortage. According to April 2023 data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 610,000 registered nurses plan to leave the field by 2027 due to stress, burnout, and retirement.
In addition to helping nurses thrive at work, DaVita also is working to recruit new nurses by:
• Working with universities, such as Chamberlain University, to increase understanding of nephrology among nursing students. The company also announced an award from the DaVita Giving Foundation to Western Governors University for a $1 million grant to help increase nursing degree completion at the university nationwide.
• Offering clinical internships to nursing students to experience firsthand the practice and meaning of delivering kidney care.
• Creating a residency program to support nurse graduates during their first year. Nurses receive additional training and are mentored by senior nurses.
“One of the greatest challenges facing the health care community today is there’s growing demand for highly skilled clinicians, and there’s not ample supply. We’re actively focused on creating pathways to education while also reducing burnout for caregivers in the field today,” said Javier Rodriguez, chief executive officer for DaVita.
