Forbes names BlueCross Tennessee’s No. 1 employer

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has been named the No. 1 employer in the state by Forbes magazine in its 2022 list of America’s Best Employers by State, which ranked the top 80 employers across Tennessee, according to a news release from the company. This ranking is up from 9th place in 2021 and 13th in 2020.

Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to compile the magazine’s fourth annual list of America’s Best Employers By State.

“BlueCross is a mission-driven company that strives to make sure our employees feel valued,” said Roy Vaughn, senior vice president and chief human resources officer in the release. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our employees’ experience because when they are at their best, we’re better able to meet the needs of our members and business partners.”

The Best Employers by State survey considered a variety of criteria, including potential for growth, salary, and openness to telecommuting. BlueCross, the state’s biggest health insurer with more than 6,000 employees, has about 88% of its staff working remotely. Participants were also asked how likely they’d be to recommend their employer to others, and to nominate organizations outside of their own industry, the release stated.

Other major area employers on the Forbes list included the Tennessee Valley Authority, which ranked No. 13; Whirlpool, which ranked No. 15; Mars, which placed No 18; Publix, which was rated No. 20; Erlanger Health System, which ranked No. 24, and the Hamilton County school district, which was rated the 30th best major employer in Tennessee.