Lane County named Oregon's healthiest employer for sixth straight year

Lane County is using employee wellness as a budget strategy as much as a workplace perk. The Eugene-based county was named Oregon’s healthiest employer in the 1,500-4,999 employee category for the sixth year in a row, and county officials say the goal is to keep workers healthier while reducing costly medical claims that ultimately land on taxpayers.

The county said its wellness strategy reaches well beyond a gym discount. It is built around physical fitness, mental health, financial stability and chronic disease prevention for employees and their families. Lane County also says those investments can lower the likelihood of high-cost medical claims, freeing up more money for public services instead of health costs.

A key part of that effort is the Live Well Center, which serves benefits-eligible employees, spouses and dependents ages 2 and up enrolled in the county health plan. Marathon Health manages the center, which offers confidential, affordable acute and preventive care, health coaching, chronic disease counseling and comprehensive primary care. Lane County also lists an Employee Assistance Program, free dental coverage for employees and eligible dependents, and a fitness center membership among its benefits.

Earlier county benefits materials said eligible employees could also receive a $20 monthly credit by completing the Health History Risk Assessment, biometric screening and Comprehensive Health Review at the Live Well Center. That kind of incentive shows how the county is trying to tie participation directly to cost control and preventive care, not just employee morale.

The recognition, posted by Lane County on May 14, 2026, extends a run that has lasted since 2017. KEZI reported the county placed third in 2017, 2018 and 2019, second in 2020, and first every year from 2021 through 2025. In 2022, KEZI said Lane County ranked sixth nationally among the healthiest 100 workplaces in America.

The Portland Business Journal’s Healthiest Employers program measures organizations in five size categories and scores them on culture and leadership commitment, foundational components, strategic planning, communication and marketing, programming and interventions, and reporting and analytics. For Lane County, the ranking is more than a trophy case entry. It is a public test of whether wellness spending can keep employees on the job, hold down claims and deliver a measurable return for residents who fund the county’s operations.