Forbes names central Ohio employer as best place for women to work in the country

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – Forbes recently ranked a central Ohio institution as the best employer for women in the United States.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital took the No. 1 spot among 600 companies in the seventh-annual list, which surveyed 150,000 women working for companies with at least 1,000 employees.

To determine the best employers for women, Forbes partnered with research firm Statista to survey respondents, who were asked how likely they were to recommend their current employer.

Participants were also asked to rate their current employer’s work environment, pay equity, parental leave and the company’s handling of incidents related to sexual misconduct or discrimination. Researchers also compiled data on the percentage of women in executive and board positions at each company.

Women represent 80% of the hospital’s workforce and 65% of management positions, according to Chief Human Resources Officer Lorina Wise.

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital was founded by a group of dedicated women volunteers in 1892,” Wise said. “Today,132 years later, the hospital is still being driven forward by amazing women.”

Nationwide Children’s, with 14,568 employees, was followed by Progressive, Lululemon Athletica, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Foot Locker and Boston Medical Center in the list of best employers for women.

Several other central Ohio employers made the list, including American Electric Power Co. Inc. (35), Ohio State University (38), OhioHealth (109), Cardinal Health Inc. (118), Olentangy Local School District (185), Victoria’s Secret & Co. (191) and Bath & Body Works Inc. (243).

Another 2024 Forbes study named Nationwide Children’s as one of the best employers for new graduates in the country, ranking 41 out of 400 employers.

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