Top benefits newsmakers of 2012

Siegel, CEO of Florida-based real estate and timeshare firm Westgate Resorts, infamously emailed his employees just weeks before election day to put them firmly on notice: “If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current president plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.” No word on whether Siegel followed through on his threat after President Obama was re-elected in November, but his note to workers represented all that was at stake in this year’s presidential election and how strongly employers on both sides of the political spectrum felt about the workforce issues that were debated throughout 2012.

Whole Foods Market — which has 300 stores in the United States, Canada and the U.K. — puts its benefits to a vote. Every three years, the company lets employees nominate benefits and if other employees agree, the benefit is added. The votes empower employees and encourage innovation, CEO and co-founder John Mackey says — two major reasons the grocer is on our top newsmakers list. [Image: Bloomberg]