Sarasota Memorial’s employer-for-women ranking places the health care system at No. 1 among Florida employers in Forbes’ 2026 list, with the organization also ranking No. 28 nationally among 700 employers. The ranking considers career advancement, pay equity, benefits, workplace culture, family support and representation of women in leadership.
Key Takeaways
- Sarasota Memorial Health Care System ranked No. 1 among Florida employers for women in Forbes’ 2026 ranking.
- The health care system placed No. 28 nationally among 700 employers across industries.
- Sarasota Memorial ranked No. 8 among healthcare organizations included in the ranking.
- Women represent 75% of Sarasota Memorial’s more than 11,000 employees.
- Women hold 73% of leadership positions at the health care system.
The Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has been recognized as Florida’s top employer for women in Forbes’ 2026 ranking, placing the organization among the highest-rated employers evaluated for workplace conditions relevant to women.
The ranking places Sarasota Memorial at No. 28 nationally among 700 employers across industries. The health care system also ranked No. 8 among healthcare organizations included in the list.
The ranking uses workplace-related criteria that include career advancement opportunities, pay equity, employee benefits, workplace culture and conditions, parental leave, family support and representation in leadership.
Those factors provide the basis for the ranking and place workplace opportunities and support for women among the criteria used to assess employers.
Sarasota Memorial’s position in the ranking also comes alongside a workforce in which women make up a substantial majority of employees and leadership positions.
Women account for 75% of Sarasota Memorial’s more than 11,000 employees. Women also hold 73% of leadership positions at the health care system.
The figures provide specific measures of women’s representation within the organization and form an important part of the employment picture associated with the ranking.
For broader context on professional advancement, a recent Women’s Journal report examined changing approaches to career development among senior women executives, including changing approaches to women’s careers.
Forbes Ranking Places Sarasota Memorial Among Leading Employers
The 2026 Forbes ranking evaluates employers across industries rather than limiting the list to healthcare organizations. Sarasota Memorial’s No. 28 national position therefore places the health care system among employers from a range of business sectors.
Its No. 1 position among Florida employers gives the ranking a state-level distinction, while its No. 8 position among healthcare organizations provides a separate industry comparison.
The ranking uses workplace-related criteria that directly address conditions affecting employees. Career advancement, compensation equity, benefits and family support are among the factors considered.
Representation in leadership is also included, connecting the employment assessment with opportunities for women to advance into management and other leadership roles.
For Sarasota Memorial, the leadership representation figure shows that women hold 73% of leadership positions. The organization’s workforce is also 75% women, according to the figures associated with the ranking.
The combination of these figures gives readers specific information about the composition of Sarasota Memorial’s workforce and leadership structure.
The national ranking also distinguishes the organization from a recognition based solely on its size or industry. The assessment considers multiple workplace characteristics when determining employer positions.
Research covered by Women’s Journal has also examined the relationship between executive leadership and women’s representation in senior roles, including women’s leadership representation rates.
Workplace Factors Shape the Women’s Employer Ranking
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Career advancement is one of the factors included in the ranking. For women in the workplace, advancement opportunities address the ability to progress professionally within an organization.
Pay equity is another component considered by the ranking. Compensation practices are evaluated alongside other employment conditions rather than being treated as the sole measure of workplace quality.
Benefits also form part of the assessment. Employee benefits can include workplace provisions that support employees beyond base compensation.
Workplace culture and conditions are included as additional factors. These criteria broaden the assessment to the day-to-day employment environment and the conditions employees experience within an organization.
Parental leave and family support are also part of the ranking criteria. These factors address workplace provisions connected to employees with family responsibilities.
The inclusion of these categories means the ranking does not rely on a single workplace characteristic. Instead, it considers several elements connected to professional advancement, compensation, benefits and employee support.
For women evaluating employers, the criteria also identify specific areas that can be examined when comparing workplace opportunities. Career development, pay equity, benefits, workplace conditions and family support are each represented in the assessment.
Sarasota Memorial’s placement provides a specific example of an employer receiving a high ranking under those criteria.
Women’s Journal has also reported on workplace wellbeing for leaders, including leadership and workplace wellbeing, another area connected to the workplace conditions considered in evaluating employers.
Career Advancement and Leadership Development
Career advancement is directly represented in the ranking criteria, while leadership representation provides a separate measure of women’s positions within the organization.
At Sarasota Memorial, women hold 73% of leadership positions. Women also account for 75% of the health system’s more than 11,000 employees.
These figures show that women represent a majority of both the overall workforce and leadership positions at the organization.
Women Hold Majority of Leadership Roles at Sarasota Memorial
The proportion of women in Sarasota Memorial’s workforce is one of the clearest quantitative details associated with the recognition.
Women comprise 75% of the organization’s more than 11,000 employees. That means women make up a substantial majority of the health care system’s workforce.
Women also occupy 73% of leadership positions. The leadership figure is separate from the overall workforce figure and provides information about women’s representation at higher organizational levels.
The two figures place workforce composition and leadership representation side by side.
The leadership percentage is particularly relevant to the ranking because representation in leadership is one of the factors used in evaluating employers for women.
The figures also provide measurable information beyond the organization’s overall ranking. Rather than relying only on the No. 1 Florida designation, readers can assess the reported representation of women among employees and leaders.
Sarasota Memorial’s No. 8 position among healthcare organizations adds another point of comparison. The health system therefore received recognition both within Florida and across the broader healthcare category represented in the ranking.
The national No. 28 position provides a third comparison, placing the organization among 700 employers across industries.
Together, the three rankings establish Sarasota Memorial’s position at the state, national and healthcare-industry levels.
Career and Family Support Programs at Sarasota Memorial
The ranking also considers benefits, career advancement and family support alongside leadership representation and pay equity.
Sarasota Memorial provides professional development and leadership training as part of its workplace support offerings. These areas correspond with the career advancement and leadership-related criteria included in the ranking.
The health care system also provides wellness resources, onsite childcare and work-life-balance programs.
Family support is specifically included among the factors used to assess employers for women. Onsite childcare and work-life-balance programs therefore represent workplace provisions directly connected to that category.
Employee benefits form another component of the ranking. Sarasota Memorial’s workplace offerings are considered alongside the organization’s representation figures and other employment factors.
Pay Equity and Employee Benefits
Pay equity is one of the criteria used in the Forbes ranking, alongside benefits and workplace conditions.
The ranking therefore evaluates compensation-related considerations within a broader assessment of the employee experience. Sarasota Memorial’s position reflects the combined criteria used to evaluate employers rather than a single measure.
Family Support and Workplace Flexibility
Parental leave and family support are also included among the ranking factors. Sarasota Memorial’s onsite childcare and work-life-balance programs fall within the workplace support information associated with the health system.
The combination of career development, leadership training, wellness resources, childcare and work-life-balance programs provides specific examples of the employment provisions identified in the organization’s recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sarasota Memorial named Florida’s top employer for women?
Sarasota Memorial was ranked No. 1 among Florida employers for women in Forbes’ 2026 ranking. The assessment considers factors including career advancement, pay equity, benefits, workplace culture and conditions, family support and women’s representation in leadership.
How did Sarasota Memorial rank nationally among employers for women?
Sarasota Memorial placed No. 28 nationally among 700 employers across industries in the 2026 ranking.
How many women work at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System?
Women represent 75% of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s more than 11,000 employees.
What workplace factors are considered in the best employers for women ranking?
The ranking considers career advancement opportunities, pay equity, benefits, workplace culture and conditions, parental leave, family support and representation in leadership.
How many women hold leadership positions at Sarasota Memorial?
Women hold 73% of leadership positions at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.
