25 Utah companies are honored as great places to work

Companies from all over the state met at Sheraton City Centre Hotel on Tuesday to recognize the winners of the 2009 Utah Work/Life Awards.

A record 25 companies were honored during this year's event. Winners represented more than 8,000 employees from various companies in the state, based anywhere from Weber to Iron counties. 1-800 CONTACTS, ARUP Laboratories, Futura Industries and Nicholas & Co. Inc. were recognized as "Legacy companies" — those that have won the award at least five times and demonstrated workplace excellence.

Futura Industries won the award for the 10th time, more than any other company.

"This is an indication we are moving down the path we value," said Sue Johnson, Futura's chief executive officer.

The event — presented by the Utah Department of Workforce Services — featured two workshops for companies, with a lunch accompanied by an awards presentation.

Lynette Rasmussen, director of the department's Office of Work & Family Life, said she felt there was a need to educate companies about understanding their employees' needs. "It is about employers listening to employees," Rasmussen told the Deseret News.

Applications are taken in the fall of each year, and a committee decides on the winners by the following spring. The awards process includes department representatives talking with the human resource officials of nominated companies, and employees at the company take a survey. Companies with the highest scores earn the award. This year, 18 other companies were recognized as finalists. Fifteen of 107 new applicants won an award.

"Even if (companies) don't win, it is still a chance for them to see how they can improve," said Kristen Cox, the department's executive director.

Rasmussen said companies may apply, and even if they do not win are still able to learn from the process.

"It was created to educate, not to pick winners and losers," Rasmussen said of the awards program, now in its 11th year. "In these economic times, some people have lost the focus of (taking care of their employees). Today, we recognize those who have not lost the focus."

Johnson's company has been winning awards for nearly as long as the Department of Workforce Services has been presenting them. Johnson said her Clearfield-based manufacturing company is "hot, hazardous and far from glamorous, but we make it all about the employees."

For example, Futura offers opportunities for leave and monetary donations or interest-free loans to assist employees with their family commitments. Futura also is being awarded this week by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for going beyond safety compliance in their aluminum manufacturing facility, according to Johnson.

A list of current and previous winners of the award is available at jobs.utah.gov/opencms/occ/worklife/awards/index.html.

E-MAIL: cneugebauer@desnews.com