Agape Care's Culture of Compassion: A Three-Time National Winner

SPARTANBURG, SC – April 09, 2026 – For the third consecutive year, Agape Care Group has been named a USA Today Top Workplace, a national honor that distinguishes the hospice and palliative care provider for its exceptional people-first culture. The award is based entirely on confidential employee feedback, offering an authentic inside-out view of the organization and cementing its reputation as a leader in a sector where workforce well-being is paramount.

The repeated recognition comes as Agape Care Group navigates a period of significant expansion, now serving nearly 6,700 patients daily with a team of over 3,000 employees across more than ten states. The achievement suggests the company has developed a successful and scalable formula for embedding a supportive culture, a feat many organizations struggle with during rapid growth.

“These honors are especially meaningful because they are based on authentic feedback from our employees,” said CEO Troy Yarborough in a statement. He directly links the internal environment to the company's external mission, adding, “A great workplace means the best possible care delivery for the patient and families we serve.”

The Anatomy of a Top Workplace

The credibility of the USA Today Top Workplaces award stems from its rigorous methodology, managed by the third-party employee engagement firm Energage. Unlike awards that can be influenced by application fees or marketing efforts, this recognition is earned solely through the unfiltered voices of employees. The process involves a comprehensive survey measuring fifteen key “Culture Drivers” proven to predict high-performing organizations, such as alignment, execution, and connection.

“Earning a USA TODAY Top Workplaces award is a testament to an organization’s commitment to a people-first culture,” explained Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “This award is proof that the employees believe in the organization and its leadership. Job seekers and customers look for this trusted badge of credibility and excellence.”

Beyond the national distinction, Agape Care Group also secured Top Workplace Culture Excellence Awards in several specific categories, including the healthcare industry, purpose & values, employee appreciation and wellbeing, innovation, and professional development. These specific accolades paint a detailed picture of a company that not only espouses its values but actively fosters an environment where employees feel seen, supported, and aligned with a meaningful mission. This focus on purpose is particularly resonant in the emotionally demanding field of end-of-life care.

Culture as a Strategy Amidst Rapid Growth

Maintaining a consistent, award-winning culture is a significant achievement on its own; doing so while pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy is a noteworthy business case. In recent years, Agape Care Group has steadily grown its footprint across the Southeast and beyond, integrating numerous organizations through acquisitions, including Journey Hospice, Hope Hospice, and select locations from Crossroads Hospice.

Such rapid scaling often risks diluting corporate culture, creating disparities between legacy teams and newly acquired staff. However, Agape Care Group’s three-year streak as a top national workplace indicates a deliberate and successful strategy to preserve and propagate its core values. The company’s leadership has emphasized cultural alignment as a key criterion in its acquisition strategy, seeking partners that share its mission-driven approach.

This sustained excellence suggests that the organization's cultural framework is not merely a set of ideals but a robust operational system. “Being recognized nationally as a Top Workplace affirms our commitment to our mission-driven culture where our people feel valued and supported so we can deliver the highest clinical care possible,” Yarborough stated. His comments underscore the belief that a strong culture is not a byproduct of success but a direct driver of it, enabling the organization to manage the complexities of integration while keeping its workforce engaged and motivated.

The Compassionate Dividend: From Employee Well-being to Patient Care

The connection between a supported workforce and superior patient outcomes is well-documented in healthcare research. Studies consistently show that hospitals and care facilities with higher employee engagement report lower rates of patient safety incidents, higher patient satisfaction scores, and reduced staff turnover. In the high-stakes, high-stress environment of hospice care, this correlation is even more critical.

Caregivers in this field face significant emotional and physical demands, making them susceptible to burnout, which can directly impact the quality of compassionate care they provide. By prioritizing employee well-being, appreciation, and professional development, Agape Care Group is making a strategic investment in the very foundation of its service delivery. When nurses, aides, and support staff feel valued and have a sense of purpose, they are better equipped to provide the empathetic, attentive, and dignified care that patients and their families need during one of life's most difficult chapters.

The company’s focus on its team members creates a positive feedback loop: a supported employee provides better care, which leads to a more positive patient-family experience, reinforcing the employee’s sense of fulfillment and purpose. This “compassionate dividend” demonstrates that investing in people is not just an HR initiative but a core component of clinical excellence and a powerful differentiator in the healthcare marketplace.

Setting a Benchmark in a Competitive Field

The hospice and palliative care industry is a competitive landscape that includes large national providers like VITAS Healthcare and Amedisys, as well as numerous regional and non-profit organizations. While other companies in the sector have also earned workplace accolades, Agape Care Group’s three-year consecutive national recognition from USA Today sets a high benchmark for sustained cultural excellence.

This consistent performance, especially during a period of intense growth, positions the company as a model for the broader healthcare industry, which continues to grapple with workforce shortages and high rates of burnout. The specific Culture Excellence awards for areas like 'purpose & values' and 'wellbeing' offer a blueprint for other organizations seeking to build resilience and loyalty within their teams.

As the demand for hospice and palliative services grows with an aging population, the ability to attract and retain top talent will be a key determinant of success. Agape Care Group's proven commitment to its people serves as a powerful magnet for skilled professionals, creating a sustainable competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate. Ultimately, the company’s repeated recognition reinforces a simple but powerful truth: the highest quality of compassionate care for patients begins with a culture of compassionate care for employees.