Redmond-based Áegis Living has been named “Best Place to Work” as part of KING 5’s “Evening Magazine’s” 2013 Best of Western Washington Awards.

In total, more than 508,000 votes were cast by 161,000 voters for 220 categories, highlighting the best businesses and most beloved personalities in the Puget Sound area.

Áegis, which operates 30 communities in Washington, California and Nevada — including two in Redmond — employs a staff of 1,800. Five additional communities are in development.

Company founder and CEO Dwayne Clark attributes Áegis’s success to a corporate culture that puts people first, evidenced by a turnover rate 65 percent below the industry average.

“This wonderful honor goes to show that we’ve not only created warm and welcoming communities for our residents, but that we’ve cultivated an enriching workplace experience,” Clark said. “Keeping employees happy and engaged is at the heart of what we do. Fulfilled employees who believe in our mission — providing the best, most compassionate care anywhere — are at the core of our success.”

One workplace initiative at Áegis is its annual EPIC Meeting — an alternative to traditional company meetings during which employees hear from thought leaders, authors, humanitarians, celebrities and other noted speakers for an uplifting personal development experience.

Áegis also has a Potato Soup Foundation, which offers monetary assistance to employees in case of emergency — covering medical bills, relocations, funeral expenses and education for staff who find themselves in difficult times. The foundation is funded by donations from senior staff and line staff who want to make contributions.

The company also has a Charlie Clause program, which has each community nominating a staff member to receive assistance. Toys, food, clothes and other items are given to the chosen recipient each year.

Finally, Áegis has Winterfest, an event in which the corporate office resembles a department store. Over the course of a day, employees come in and “shop” for items donated and purchased by the company for them.