UAB ranked #1 Best Large Employer in America by Forbes

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Campus 20 1 UAB ranked #1 Best Large Employer in America by Forbes
UAB campus. Photo via Bham Now

In a recent article, Forbes named The University of Alabama at Birmingham as one of the best large employers in America. As a matter of fact, UAB ranked as #1 on the list that includes institutions like Yale, Trader Joe’s, Mayo Clinic and more. Keep reading to see what landed them at the top.

#1 in America

UAB Campus 2 2048x1365 1 UAB ranked #1 Best Large Employer in America by Forbes
UAB is making Bham proud. Photo via Bham Now

As the state’s largest employer with about 23,000 employees, The University of Alabama at Birmingham has been working hard to recruit and retain talented individuals—even amidst COVID. That talent and dedication that the frontline workers show every single day is obviously catching national attention.

How does the ranking of Forbes’ list of America’s best large employers work?

In partnership with market research firm Statista, Forbes gathered their list of best large employers in the U.S. by surveying 50,000 Americans who work for businesses that have at least 1,000 employees. Those surveyed were asked to:

  • Rate their willingness to recommend their own employer to friends and family
  • Nominate organizations other than their employer

After this process, UAB came out on top.

Applauding our courageous frontline workers

UAB
Kierstin Kennedy, M.D., is UAB’s Chief of Hospital Medicine receiving a vaccine shot. Photo via UAB Medicine’s Facebook

Since this pandemic started, UAB took on COVID headfirst. Between their innovative contact tracing app called GuideSafe and providing employees with all of the necessary equipment to keep them safe, the institution has been rolling with the punches.

Thanks to community donations, the hospital has been able to open a warehouse that stores more than 100,000 masks, 150,000 isolation gowns and over 5 million exam gloves.

Of course, working with COVID patients can be physically and mentally taxing so to help employees, UAB has also given important access to mental health resources, including a mental wellness app.

In an interview with Forbes, this is what UAB President Dr. Ray Watts had to say:

“We’ve had almost up to 300 Covid patients at a time with 30% in an ICU. [UAB employees] have done it without complaint. The resilience of our employees during these times of greater stress [have] been remarkable.”

This isn’t UAB’s first rodeo

A healthcare worker searching through supplies.
UAB healthcare staff is working hard through the pandemic. Photo via UAB Medicine’s Facebook

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is no stranger to national accolades and rightfully so. Here are some more stories that highlight their accomplishments:

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Chaise Sanders
Chaise Sanders
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