The HealthNEXT Culture of Health and Wellbeing Award
Recognizing organizations that lead with employee health and wellbeing to elevate performance, advance health care cost management, build resilience, and deliver long‑term organizational impact.
Elevating Health. Driving Performance. Creating Lasting Value.
The HealthNEXT Culture of Health & Wellbeing Awards recognize employers that have moved beyond traditional wellness programs to embed health, wellbeing, and performance into the core of how their organizations operate.
These organizations understand that health and wellbeing are not peripheral benefits—they are business imperatives. Award recipients demonstrate measurable excellence across leadership, governance, strategy, benefits design, and enterprise-wide outcomes, proving that investing in workforce wellbeing fuels stronger performance, resilience, and sustainable value creation.
Gold-level honorees represent organizations that have achieved advanced maturity and demonstrated outcomes across multiple dimensions of health and wellbeing performance. These employers exemplify what a truly high-performing culture of health looks like in today’s workforce.
2026 Gold-Level Honoree
Robert W. Baird & Co.
HealthNEXT is proud to recognize Robert W. Baird & Co. as a Gold-level Culture of Health & Wellbeing Award recipient.
Baird’s recognition reflects sustained, best-in-class performance across HealthNEXT’s ten pillars of a culture of health and wellbeing. Their approach demonstrates how intentional design, disciplined execution, and leadership commitment can transform workforce health into a competitive advantage.
Key differentiators include:
- Enterprise Integration of Health & Wellbeing
Health and wellbeing are embedded across leadership and daily operations as a core way the organization functions. - Strategic Stewardship of Health Investments
Baird applies disciplined, data-driven management to health-related investments—aligning wellbeing with broader enterprise strategy. - Commitment to Benefits Equity
Healthcare premiums are structured so lower-paid employees contribute less while higher-paid employees contribute more, ensuring access and fairness for all. - Executive-Led Health Governance
A dedicated Health Care Subcommittee and senior leadership champions sustain visibility, accountability, and continuous advancement. - Exceptional Workforce Engagement
Baird’s BWell program consistently exceeds 90% participation, reflecting deep trust, relevance, and cultural alignment—where wellbeing is a shared value, not just a program to join.
Why This Recognition Matters
Organizations recognized by HealthNEXT are not only improving workplace health—they are contributing to a broader ripple effect that strengthens families, communities, and local economies through healthier, more engaged populations.
Advancing the Culture of Health Movement
As HealthNEXT Co‑Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ray Fabius notes:
“Building a culture of health is one of the most powerful levers an organization has—not just for cost management, but for unlocking human potential.”