ARUP Among Winners Named in Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards

Chief Sponsor: Utah Psychological Association, Psychologically Healthy Workplace Committee
Co-Sponsor: Department of Communication, University of Utah

On Saturday, March 12, 2005 at the University of Utah, the Utah Psychological Association welcomed Dr. David Sundwall, director of the Utah Department of Health, and other guests to honor a variety of Utah organizations for their commitment to employee health and well being. This is the third year for the Utah Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards. Winning organizations span the private, public, and non-profit sectors and are visited by teams of psychologists, consultants, and academics. The criteria for the award are: health and safety, employee involvement, employee growth and development, and work-life balance. The gathering offered an opportunity to spotlight this year's awardees and to share information and creative solutions to the challenges of creating and maintaining healthy work organizations. This year's event began with a panel discussion with representatives of past award winners including Meredith Saarinen of Black Diamond Equipment, Von Madsen of ARUP Laboratories, Katie Olson of Ten Thousand Villages, Noralyn Snow of Silverado Senior Living Center and Jaimee Trewitt of Nicholas and Company. Dr. George Cheney from the University of Utah Department of Communication served as discussant and Rosalie Hydock from the Utah Psychological Association was moderator. The discussion was very well received and there are plans to repeat the panel in other forums.

The awards ceremony included special recognition of Silverado Senior Living for their national-level award for best practices in the work-life balance category from the American Psychological Association. Silverado was one of ten companies chosen from a pool of over 180 organizations from across the United States and Canada. They received the award for their family friendly initiatives.

Winners for the overall Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award for 2004-05 are:

• ARUP Laboratories, Large Business
• Beneficial International, Small Business
• Black Diamond Equipment, Large Business
• Brigham Young University, Non-Profit
• First Step House, Non-Profit
• Nicholas and Company, Large Business
• Ten Thousand Villages, Non-Profit

Also receiving acknowledgement with a Certificate of Merit for specific programs were Hill Air Force Base and The Synergy Company of Moab.

For more information, contact: