Journey Payroll & HR, a payroll and human resources company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, named a 2026 Best Place to Work in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine and Best Companies Group.
An independent employee survey places Journey among Colorado's top employers for workplace culture, benefits, and people-first practices.
This recognition means the world because it came from our team. When the people you pour your heart into every day say this is the best place they've ever worked, there is no better feeling than that.”
FORT COLLINS, CO, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Journey Payroll & HR, a Fort Collins, Colorado-based payroll and human resources company serving small and mid-sized businesses across the country, has been named a 2026 Best Place to Work in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine. The recognition is part of a research-driven program administered by Best Companies Group that evaluates each organization's workplace practices, programs, and benefits, and independently surveys employees to assess their experience. — Ashlee Faulkner, Chief Heart Officer
Unlike recognition programs based solely on employer submissions, the Best Places to Work in Colorado designation requires companies to meet specific criteria across both organizational practices and employee sentiment. Journey's inclusion in the 2026 class reflects what its team members reported directly: that this is a workplace worth showing up to.
That sentiment is backed by deliberate investment. Journey Payroll & HR has the majority of their team operating on a four-day workweek, a licensed massage therapist visits the Fort Collins headquarters weekly at no cost to employees, funded by company shareholders, and a soft tissue chiropractor provides subsidized on-site care every other week for those that opt-in. A dedicated zen den gives employees space to decompress during the workday. Each investment reflects an ownership team that backs its culture with action.
Underlying all of it is a culture built around genuine care, open communication, and the belief that employees who feel supported perform better and serve clients better. Ashlee Faulkner, Chief Heart Officer and Shareholder at Journey Payroll & HR, leads the company's culture and employee development efforts, ensuring Journey's values show up consistently in how every person on the team is treated every day.
"This recognition means the world because it came from our team. When the people you pour your heart into every day say this is the best place they've ever worked, there is no better feeling than that," said Faulkner.
Adam Trousil, Operations Manager at Journey Payroll & HR, says the recognition reflects an experience he has felt firsthand.
"Journey's leadership puts real time and effort into building a happy, healthy work life, and it shows. I've worked plenty of places that talk about work-life balance but never actually follow through. Journey is different," said Trousil.
Kevin Welch, CEO and Founder of Journey Payroll & HR, says the recognition belongs to the people who made it possible.
"A Best Place to Work recognition means something different when employees are the ones who decide it. We have always believed that taking care of our team is the foundation of everything we build. Anything and everything we do starts with the people on our team, and receiving this award means everything," said Welch.
The 2026 Best Places to Work recognition follows a landmark year for Journey Payroll & HR, which also saw Kevin Welch named a 2026 ColoradoBiz Icon and Ashlee Faulkner recognized among Colorado's Top Women in Business. For a company founded on the belief that people come first, the recognition is less a destination and more a reflection of a standard Journey has held since day one. At Journey, Humanizing the Workplace has always been more than a tagline; it's a core value.
About Journey Payroll & HR
Journey Payroll & HR is a payroll and human resources company serving small and mid-sized businesses across the country with payroll, HR, compliance, and workforce support solutions. Founded in 2010 by Kevin Welch and headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, Journey operates through a franchise model that combines local ownership with national-level tools and infrastructure. Journey has 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.
To learn more, visit www.JourneyPayrollHR.com.
Allie Ford
Journey Payroll & HR
+1 970-568-8613
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