MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) today announced that it has been named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the fifth straight year, earning recognition as the top workplace in Minnesota and ranking 80 on the national list. In the 2016 edition, FORTUNE recognized Allianz Life’s focus on building a culture of teamwork via leadership transparency, employee recognition programs, and the company’s commitment to career development. Based in Minneapolis, Allianz Life is a leading provider of retirement income and protection solutions, including fixed and variable annuities and life insurance. The firm employs 2,100 employees nationwide, with more than 1,700 people at its corporate campus.

“At Allianz Life, employee engagement and recognition are key elements of our business strategy, and we believe strongly that engaged employees provide better support to our customers,” said Allianz Life President and CEO Walter White. “Maintaining a culture of inclusive meritocracy where employee ideas are embraced and great work recognized is a source of competitive advantage that helps us retain top talent.”

To build on this recognition culture, Allianz Life introduced Recognition Central, an online platform that allows leaders to easily recognize key contributors in the organization, while also encouraging peer and social recognition between employees. Through this platform, employees receive visible, ongoing evidence of the impact of each other’s efforts, which incents them to rise to higher levels of performance. In 2015, 93% of Allianz Life employees were recognized in some way through Recognition Central.

Two-way performance and career discussions are also key focus areas at Allianz Life. A new Coaching for Success program introduced in 2015 helps improve the conversations between managers and employees on performance and career development. This improved approach has not only enhanced career development discussions, but has also re-energized the regular employee-manager conversations that support growth.

“While leadership tools can help, our employees truly drive our dynamic culture by engaging in their work and raising the bar every day,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Suzanne Dowd Zeller. “This passion for performance drives our business and is visible to our customers, who rely on Allianz Life to help them live their lives with confidence.”

In addition to the recognition from FORTUNE, Allianz Life for six straight years has been on the Minneapolis Star Tribune Top Workplace list (June 2015) and was named to the 2015 100 Best Companies list from Working Mother magazine (September 2015).

To identify the 100 Best Companies to Work For, each year FORTUNE partners with Great Place to Work to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. Two-thirds of a company’s survey score is based on the results of the Trust Index Employee Survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. This survey asks questions related to employees’ attitudes about management’s credibility, overall job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The other third is based on responses to the Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs, and diversity efforts.

About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2016, has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with 147,000 employees worldwide. More than 85 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz knowledge, global reach, and capital strength to help them make the most of financial opportunities. Follow Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America on Twitter @AllianzLifeNews.