VIBE Awards 2023: Best Companies for Financial and Retirement Benefits

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Access to financial advisors, tuition reimbursement, 401(k) programs with company match—there are a number of ways that employers are able to help prepare its workforce for retirement. And people need these benefits: According to a recent Gallup poll, 71% of non-retired adults are at least moderately worried about being able to fund their retirement.

Financial and retirement benefits is just one of the categories we spotlight in the 2023 VIBE Awards, which we created to showcase companies on The Muse with the strongest employee benefits programs. “VIBE” stands for “voted in by employees” because our methodology combines proprietary data about our partners and votes from their employees, who are asked to rank the strength of their company’s perks and benefits. For each of the seven VIBE Awards categories—which also include work flexibility and office life and perks—we feature winners from small, medium, and large businesses.

Among the small-size companies, Good Apple stands out for paying above the standard for a media agency. Says one team member, “Good Apple provides competitive salaries for our industry, and has helped me achieve more financial stability since starting here. It would take quite a lot for me to leave the company.”

And employees at Warner Bros. Discovery—one of the medium and large-size company winners—appreciate everything from the dependent care FSA to student loan repayment to the 401(k) matching. “I’m grateful for how WBD matches employees’ pension contributions,” one employee says. “It’s an incentive to contribute to my pension as early as possible in my career knowing it’ll make a difference over decades.”

Read on for the full list of winners in the financial and retirement benefits category.

Small Companies

GameChanger

Who they are: This tech company and app helps youth sports teams stay connected, live stream games, keep score, and more.

What employees are saying: “They’ve given me a very competitive salary in a fully remote setting, and are committed to keeping my salary competitive. That’s something that is increasingly difficult to find in a company.”

Airbase

Who they are: This spend management platform helps companies handle accounts payable, corporate credit card programs, and employee expense reimbursements in one system.

What employees are saying: “Airbase’s financial retirement benefits make it easy for me to allocate tax-free dollars to my future all on a platform that is transparent and easy to use.”

Good Apple

Who they are: This independent ad agency works with clients in a range of industries, from fashion to healthcare.

What employees are saying: “Our company provides bonuses if we collectively reach our financial goals for the year. Instead of our success only benefiting the C-suite, everyone is rewarded. This is a huge thing that differentiates our company.”

UnitedMasters

Who they are: This music distributor gives artists the tools they need to manage their business as well as full ownership of their master recording rights.

What employees are saying: “The company matches our 401(k) contributions, which for a startup is unique. Additionally, we are offered equity in the company.”

Asensus Surgical

Who they are: This healthtech company is digitizing the interface between surgeons and patients before, during, and after surgeries.

What employees are saying: “I appreciate both the generous stock option plan as well as the 401(k) offerings that Asensus provides new hires.”

BrainPOP

Who they are: This edtech company creates playful content and experiences that help kids strengthen their critical, computational, and creative thinking skills.

What employees are saying: “This is the first company I’ve worked for that I’ve been able to make contributions to a 401(k) with a great company match. Working in a creative industry, I never thought I’d be able to retire, but BrainPOP has completely changed my outlook.”

Medium & Large Companies

Visa

Who they are: Visa facilitates more than 259 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities each year.

What employees are saying: “Visa offers tuition benefits, which provides up to $10,000. This impacts my career because it lets me continue my education knowing I have guaranteed financial support.”

TransUnion

Who they are: TransUnion is a global information and insights company and credit reporting agency.

What employees are saying:

“The Employee Stock Purchase Program and discount we receive as associates of TU has allowed my family the ability to become financially independent while helping us plan for our son’s future.”

Biogen

Who they are: This biotech company researches, develops, and distributes therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

What employees are saying: “Using tuition reimbursement benefits for grad school has given my career a new trajectory as my company is directly helping me in developing new skills. I am able to learn business applications for emerging technologies and apply my learnings at work. It’s been great.”

Thomson Reuters

Who they are: Thomson Reuters provides data and insights to professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media industries.

What employees are saying: “Thomson Reuters’ retirement plan allows me to save for retirement with an awesome company match to support my future retirement goals.”

Warner Bros. Discovery

Who they are: This global media and entertainment company brings TV, film, sports, news, and gaming to millions of people around the world.

What employees are saying: “I’m trying to save more money and the company offered a discounted stock purchase plan that deducts right out of my paycheck, which makes saving so much more convenient.”

GE Power

Who they are: GE Power is working to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy while delivering electricity to its customers.

What employees are saying: “I have been with GE for 32 years and have raised my children, put them through college, seen some beautiful places on vacation with them, and allowed them to start life in a much better place than me. I have also been afforded a good pension and the ability to save diligently in my 401(k), with company matching, so I’m set for my retirement.”