Forbes names East Alabama Health one of America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2026

OPELIKA, Ala.-Forbes has named East Alabama Health one of America's Best-in-State Employers for 2026, recognizing the health system based on employee survey feedback. East Alabama Health is one of two Lee County-based employers on this year's list.

"This recognition belongs to the employees who care for our community every day," President and CEO Laura Grill said. "East Alabama Health has long been recognized nationally as a great place to work, and we are committed to continuing to invest in our people and what matters most to them."

With more than 4,200 employees, East Alabama Health is the second-largest employer in Lee County and supports families and businesses throughout the region.

East Alabama offers benefits that support employees' careers and lives outside of work, including on-site childcare, flexible work options, competitive pay, a retirement plan with an employer match and on-site education programs that help them grow their careers.

Several benefits set East Alabama Health apart from other employers:

• Scholarship and tuition support for employees: East Alabama Health offers scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs for employees to pursue higher education and career goals. More than 240 employees are engaged in workforce development programs.
• Helping workers become first-time homeowners: Through its partnership with Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity, East Alabama Health has sponsored 20 home builds-including two this fall-that helped employees become first-time homeowners.
• Match for 529 college savings: East Alabama Health matches employee contributions to 529 college savings plans up to $900 a year, a benefit few Alabama employers offer.
• On-site, paid education opportunities: Employees can train for careers in nursing, sonography and emergency medicine through on-site programs, with paid coursework and clinicals.
• Infertility treatment and adoption assistance: For employees growing their families, East Alabama Health offers up to $15,000 toward infertility testing and treatment, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), as well as guided adoption assistance.

"Our employees are in many different seasons of life-some are starting families, others preparing for retirement or considering going back to school," Susan Johnston, chief human resources officer, said. "We try to build our benefits to support them during those moments, and we're always listening for what our employees need next."

To build the list, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 245,000 U.S. employees at organizations with at least 500 workers.

Employees rated how likely they would be to recommend their own employer to friends and family, and assessed factors such as pay and benefits, management, flexibility and career advancement.

About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, East Alabama Medical Center North in Opelika, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 336-bed regional referral hospital. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency care, outpatient services and surgery, while its campus also features a nursing home. East Alabama Health employs about 4,200 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University.