PBN Healthiest Employers of Rhode Island 2025 Awards
500-1,499 EMPLOYEES #1. Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
CEO (or equivalent): Peter Marino, CEO and president
Number of employees: 650
WELLNESS IS SOMETHING that Sheri Booker strives for and makes part of her daily lifestyle. But competing work and family priorities, along with lacking access to proper resources, have, at times, made a healthy way of living difficult for Booker, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island’s senior learning and development coordinator.
That’s where her employer, the Smithfield-based nonprofit health insurer, came to her rescue.
Neighborhood’s wellness programs, Booker says, provide a variety of tools and resources to help her reach her fitness goals, including access to an online tracking portal, the Calm app, as well as monthly informative webinars and activities.
“These resources help me to build mind, body and spirit,” Booker said.
She isn’t alone. Neighborhood is as committed to the wellness of its diverse 650-member workforce as it is in serving nearly 1 in 5 Rhode Islanders getting the health care access they need.
Neighborhood’s holistic benefits program encompasses physical, financial and emotional wellness. The organization has implemented a number of concrete examples to bring more peace into the lives of its employees, including a “Serenity Space” where staff can take breaks to sit and reflect throughout the day, a walking path outside its headquarters, free access to the Calm app and an increase in benefits through its employee assistance program.
Small changes can make a huge difference in employee wellness. For example, after removing the copay for in- and out-of-network behavioral health care, the organization saw a 20% increase in utilization of these services.
“By removing that financial barrier, employees were able to seek care and not worry about their copays, which build up quickly,” Neighborhood Senior Manager of Total Rewards Nicole Voller said. “It was a nice add to the program, which was really appreciated.”
To provide further support options for employees and their families, Neighborhood increased the resources so they are available 24/7 through the employee assistance program, including unlimited phone counseling and up to six in-person or virtual sessions. This benefit represents one more way that the organization prioritizes the mental health of employees every day.
Forty-eight percent of employees have taken advantage of the free premium subscription to the Calm app, which offers meditation and music to help them focus and relax. Of those enrolled, 76.3% actively use the tool on a regular basis.
In the workplace, Neighborhood has instituted a flexible work program that allows people to accomplish tasks remotely on Fridays. Everyone is encouraged to participate in these “Flexible Fridays,” which also mean no scheduled meetings.
With these options at their fingertips, Neighborhood employees are encouraged to finish up their projects for the week, resulting in increased productivity, creating a healthy work environment, allowing for a better work-life balance and improving employee retention.
Through an application process, employees may ask to extend temporary remote arrangements to access more time to care for a loved one or recover from a surgery or illness. Allowing people more-flexible options increases efficiency and, over the long term, loyalty to the organization.
“We’re committed to looking for different benefits and enhancements to improve the employee experience,” Voller said.
Neighborhood’s leadership team regularly seeks feedback from employees so it can identify improvements to the work environment. An annual survey focused on health and well-being, as well as additional surveys throughout the year, help the organization keep a pulse on the specific needs of its staff.
“New topics come up in every survey. Things change over the years, impacting the issues employees are focused on to maintain their own work-life balance,” Voller said.
In Neighborhood’s most recent survey, 72% of employees indicated a favorable result when asked about their experience at the organization. That satisfaction is directly related to having a wellness program that rewards healthy habits such as daily steps, sleep tracking and attending monthly sessions on physical, mental, emotional and financial health.
“Having support from my employer provides me with a sense of feeling valued and that my health matters,” Booker said.
A Healthy Thought:
‘We believe true well-being includes emotional resilience, financial literacy, mental clarity and a strong sense of belonging.’
NICOLE VOLLER, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island senior manager of total rewards
