The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU), the leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance for waterfront employers, was recently named as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama in an annual ranking compiled by Business Alabama and Best Companies Group.

This survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in Alabama, benefiting the economy, workforce, and businesses. 22 companies received the coveted award.

In the small-to-medium company category (15 to 249 employees), AEU ranked 5th among the 13 companies receiving the award. Headquartered in Mobile with offices in Metairie, La., Seattle, Wash., Philadelphia, Penn., and Washington, D.C., AEU has 130 total employees, 56% of which are in Alabama.

“This award is a testament to the commitment we’ve made to our employees, community and industry to be a great place to work,” said Michael Lapeyrouse, president and CEO of AEU. “We’ve intentionally built a culture where employees feel appreciated and invested in the success of not only our business, but our clients’ businesses, and that translates to truly rewarding work environment.”

Companies from across the state entered the two-part survey process to determine the top workplaces in the state. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Alabama, analyzed the data, and determined the final rankings.

The rankings were revealed in the August 2019 issue of Business Alabama.