Forbes: Sarasota Memorial the 7th best employer for women in US

When it comes to the workplace, Sarasota Memorial Hospital is among the best in the country for female employees, according to a new survey from Forbes. The business magazine teamed up with data gathering company Statista to identify the best employers for women, and on the 2024 list, Sarasota Memorial ranked No. 7 in the nation.

To qualify for the list, an organization had to have at least 1,000 employees, according to a statement. Sarasota Memorial has 10,000, according to Forbes. Statista surveyed 150,000 women and ranked the top 600 employers based on their responses combined with other data. 

Current employees were asked to rate their employer on things like pay equity, parental leave, work environment, and how sexual misconduct and discrimination were handled. Analysts used data from the past three years but weighed current information more heavily. Statista also looked at how many executive and board positions were occupied by women.

More than 70% of Sarasota Memorial’s leadership team is made up of women, including more than half of its directors and executive team, according to Sarasota County Public Hospital Board Chair Sarah Lodge, who attributes the hospital’s commitment to diversity as part of what makes it a success.

“SMH has done an outstanding job with effective hiring practices, family-friendly policies and leadership development opportunities,” Lodge says in the statement. “As the largest employer in Sarasota County, and the region’s only community-owned public hospital, the success of the workforce is vital to the care provided to our community.”

In all, 46 hospitals and health care systems made it onto the Forbes list. Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, secured the No. 1 spot on the list of the best employers for women. One other regional health care system also made the top 100: Clearwater-based BayCare ranked No. 79.

Sarasota Memorial’s ranking on the Forbes list comes weeks after the hospital performed strongly in another set of rankings, those by U.S. News & World Report. Both are a testament to the vision for the institution, its CEO says.

“Our vision has always been to be the best place for patients, the best workplace, and the best environment for practicing medicine,” CEO David Verinder says in the statement. “We are grateful to be recognized for our commitment to excellence in these areas.”