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November 10, 2002
News Specialist Shelley Osterloh reporting
Do you enjoy your work and coworkers? Do you get good benefits
and feel valued at work?
Seven Utah companies have been recognized for having psychologically
healthy work places.
And Governor Leavitt signed a proclamation recognizing psychologically
healthy workplace week while CEOs from winning companies looked
on.
The top winner in the large company category is ARUP medical
lab services company in Research Park that employs nearly
1400 people.
A shortage of qualified medical technologists spurred ARUP
leaders to improve its benefits to help attract and retain
qualified workers.
"There's no doubt that these programs do cost money,
but the benefits we get from them far outweigh the costs,"
says Dr. Ronald Weiss M.D., senior vice president of ARUP.
Brandon Epperson had worked at ARUP only two months when he
went to the company's on-site health clinic complaining of
chronic severe headaches. Epperson says other doctors failed
to notice something the staff doctor suspected -- a lemon-sized
cyst on his brain.
Because of generous benefits, he says he ended up paying only
$15 for $60,000 worth of surgery.
"They have a really nice insurance package, something
I didn't consider important when I started working here, being
21-years-old, but it turned out to be a real blessing,"
Epperson says.
There are suggestion boxes scattered around, and the company
president has an open weekly lunch with staff.
Ellen Fisher takes yoga, lifts weights and used the exercise
room for rehab after her knee surgery. She's worked there
for 17 years, and says bosses are responsive to employee concerns.
"The people I work with are very happy working here and
part of it is because they pay well, they pay competitively,
and part of it is because they're committed to making the
workplace a positive place and that we get along well,"
she says.
The company has a tuition reimbursement program for employees
and their families. Since Gwen Crist is training for her medical
work, the company pays 100 percent, and gives her time off
for school.
"I'm taking 17 credit hours this semester, and my supervisor
and managers have been so helpful with my work schedule and
flexible hours and reducing my hours for the short period
of time that I'm in school," Crist says.
A team of six psychology experts examined dozens of applications.
The reason for the award though, was to draw attention to
the need for more psychologically healthy work places.
The team examined four key areas: employee involvement, health
and safety, employee training and development and family support.
"One common thread was the respect that the companies
showed for their employees, and we think that's a very important
concept for psychological health," says Jane Blackwell,
Ph.D., of the Utah Psychological Association.
Some company leaders are finding that happy, healthy workers
are more creative and productive. Many workers hope it's a
trend that finds its way to their workplace.
In addition to ARUP, other companies recognized for having
a healthy workplace are Catalyst Magazine, Merit Medical Systems,
Earth Studio of Moab, Nicholas and Company, the Bisys Group,
and Black Diamond Equipment Company.
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