Journey Payroll & HR lands ColoradoBiz Best Place to Work honor

Journey Payroll & HR was named a 2026 Best Place to Work in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine after an independent employee survey and workplace review. The Fort Collins company says the recognition reflects its culture-first approach, including a four-day workweek for much of the team and employee wellness benefits.

Why it matters: - The award signals how Journey Payroll & HR’s workplace practices translate into employee sentiment, which can affect retention, recruitment and client service. - The recognition came from an independent process, not just an employer application, which gives the honor more weight than self-nominated awards. - Journey’s inclusion also adds to a strong year of visibility for the company and its leadership.

What happened: - Journey Payroll & HR was named a 2026 Best Place to Work in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine. - The company is based in Fort Collins and serves small and mid-sized businesses across the country. - The recognition is part of a research-driven program administered by Best Companies Group. - The program evaluates workplace practices, programs and benefits, and independently surveys employees. - Journey’s employees helped determine the result through the survey process.

The details: - Journey says the majority of its team works a four-day workweek. - A licensed massage therapist visits the Fort Collins headquarters weekly at no cost to employees. - Company shareholders fund that massage benefit. - A soft tissue chiropractor provides subsidized on-site care every other week for employees who opt in. - The company also has a zen den for employees to decompress during the workday. - Ashlee Faulkner, Chief Heart Officer and Shareholder, leads culture and employee development efforts. - Faulkner said the recognition mattered because it came from the team. - Adam Trousil, Operations Manager, said Journey’s leadership invests time and effort in work-life balance. - Kevin Welch, CEO and Founder, said the award reflects the company’s focus on people. - Journey was founded in 2010 and operates through a franchise model that combines local ownership with national tools and infrastructure. - The company provides payroll, HR, compliance and workforce support solutions. - Journey has also been recognized by BizWest's Mercury 100, ColoradoBiz's Companies to Watch, the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics, and ColoradoBiz's Best Places to Work in Colorado for 2026. - The company’s website is JourneyPayrollHR.com. - Journey also shared social media links on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Between the lines: - The award highlights a broader shift in how employers compete for talent: culture perks, flexibility and wellness benefits now play alongside pay and titles. - Journey’s benefits package appears designed to make workplace culture visible in day-to-day routines, not just internal messaging. - The leadership quotes frame the award as validation of a values-driven model rather than a marketing milestone.

What's next: - Journey is likely to continue using workplace culture as part of its brand and hiring strategy. - The company’s broader challenge will be sustaining these benefits as it grows and operates across a national client base. - Additional recognition could follow if Journey keeps pairing employee experience with business performance.

The bottom line: - Journey Payroll & HR’s latest honor comes from the people who work there, and the company is using that validation to reinforce its people-first identity.