Employee health and well-being recognized

Seven Utah businesses were recognized Thursday at the Capitol for excellence in promoting a healthy workplace for employees.

Companies chosen to receive the fifth annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards, sponsored by the Utah Psychological Association and the Center for Human Potential demonstrated dedication to their employees' growth and development, families, involvement in the company, health, safety and recognition.

"A psychologically healthy workplace is a workplace that promotes health — not just treating sickness," said Paul Stratton, chairman of the committee that selected the winners. "From a business standpoint, it promotes more production."

Backcountry.com, winner of this year's gold award for a large-sized business, was selected for its dedication and going "above and beyond" in the number of benefits employees normally would receive.

"Each company has made a culture to encourage well-being," said Paul Warner, co-chairman of the event.

Also honored at the ceremony was three-time winner ARUP Laboratories, which was inducted into the health and wellness hall of fame for its sustained dedication to the well-being of its employees, Warner said. ARUP has won awards for employee health and well-being in the past, including two national awards from the American Psychological Association.

"We created a culture around employee empowerment and make it easy to balance being an employee and having a life," said Von Madsen, ARUP human resources manager.

Madsen credits the high retention rate of employees to the company's dedication to health and wellness. It has a free on-site health clinic that is operated six days a weeks for employees and their families, a child-care facility, wellness center, chair massages, lactation room for nursing mothers and free transport to and from work in addition to competitive pay.

But Madsen said it is the little things that have the biggest impact on employees.

"The majority of it comes from things that don't cost a lot that make a big difference in being psychologically healthy or not, like creating a culture of trust between employees and supervisors."

Warner encourages companies to begin applying for next year's awards. For more information, contact him at pwarner@c4hp.net.

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