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Download a fact sheet about the 2005 winners here

Work can be stressful, but three Ohio organizations have implemented programs and policies to make their employees’ work life psychologically healthy. On October 26, the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) honored Nationwide (Columbus), Koinonia Homes, Inc. (Cuyahoga Heights) and The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties (Wooster) as recipients of its third annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award.

Each applicant was judged on one or a combination of the following four criteria: employee involvement, family support, employee growth and development or health and safety.  A summary of why each company was selected follows. Applications for next year’s award are available on the PHWA page.

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Above: Kathleen Herath, director of associate health services, Judy Harper, director of human resource administration, Cathy Hill, occupational health manager, and Brent McMenemy, associate vice president, associate service center, were on hand to receive Nationwide’s award.

Nationwide is one of the world’s largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations. The company offers a variety of programs to make their employees’ lives better, including Alternative Workplace Solutions, a policy that supports flexible work hours, compressed work weeks, part-time and job sharing schedules. The company also provides on-site lactation rooms for mothers coming back to work after having a child; tax-favored flexible spending accounts for dependent day care and medical care expenses; tuition assistance; a learning and development department that teaches computer software programs and basic business courses such as writing, time management and customer service; the Nationwide Wellness Center, a fully equipped corporate fitness facility; and an “I Got Caught” program for employee recognition.

Nationwide’s most impressive program for employees is its Associate Assistance Program, a confidential service for information, resources and referrals that addresses all life issues. By calling a toll-free number, associates are linked to a variety of resources, including adult/elder care services; child/parenting support services, including local day care options; professional counselors; legal assistance; certified financial planners and more.

In addition, Nationwide showed its concern and support for employees during the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster. The company contacted retirees to see if they needed any assistance, and provided chair massages to those who were working long hours and dealing with claims after the incident.

"Nationwide knows the value of providing an environment that meets the needs of our associates," said Bob Puccio, vice president of associate services. "Offering programs and resources that support associates both at work and outside of work go a long way in creating a physically and emotionally healthy workplace."

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Above: Cheryl Freed, staff development director, Diane Beastrom, executive director, and Nancy Disbrow, human resource director, represented Koinonia Homes, Inc.

Koinonia Homes, Inc. provides residential services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Cuyahoga County. Koinonia focuses heavily on employee involvement, growth and development. The Pins of Pride program rewards staff that goes above and beyond the call of duty. Pins are collected on a lanyard and employees can receive them for submitting a creative solution to enhance services to clients or save money, among others. Employees also are recognized on the achievement board, where they can thank others for helping them.

At quarterly staff meetings, one topic is chosen on which employees can provide feedback. Once the topic is presented at the meeting, employees have 15 minutes to “Stand up and Be Heard” by writing their comments anonymously. The Executive Council reviews the feedback and takes action. One topic that was discussed was the dress code. Now employees are told what not to wear instead of what to wear.

Staff also has access to tuition reimbursement and in-house training on a variety of topics important to their jobs, including aging and dementia. The “Train the Trainer” course allows managers to learn the basic skills for developing a training session. The 10-hour course teaches them the fundamentals of adult learning and other necessary information. After the course, the manager teaches to a class where they are critiqued on style and content.

"What makes Koinonia Homes, Inc. a psychologically healthy workplace is our commitment to engage our staff to learn, grow and build a career, as well as to contribute their insights and perspectives in meaningful ways to the organization and the community,” said Diane Beastrom, executive director. “We invest in our employees and they have responded with commitment to the organization and passion for fulfilling our mission."

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Above:  Larry Cesare, PsyD, chief clinical officer, accepted the award for the Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties.

The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes County is a community mental health center that provides a range of services. The Counseling Center uses a variety of means to make the work environment psychologically healthy. Employees are involved in the decision making and operation process by participating in the Annual Employee Satisfaction Survey. Staff suggestions are reviewed and then discussed for implementation. In addition, employees can become part of Quality Improvement Teams to solve problems in the workplace. Teams are currently working on revising forms and looking at software options for the Center. Staff also can drop a suggestion in a suggestion box. The best suggestion each month is given a gift certificate. Most recently, the Center implemented a peer mentor program where each new employee is given a mentor to meet them on their first day of work and take them out to lunch.

Employees are also rewarded for their work. An incentive is given each quarter to staff members who meet certain performance goals. Staff members are recognized for their work and the difference they make to others through recognition at staff meetings. The Center’s Flower Fund is used to give flowers to employees who have a celebration or death in the family. The Center’s Random Act of Kindness program selects an employee each month to receive a basket of goodies on their desk.

A Wellness Committee plans employee events such as holiday parties and coffeehouses where the employees provide the musical entertainment. The Wellness Committee also gives a health tip at each staff meeting.

“Counseling Center staff work in an environment with a heavy workload, limited financial rewards and significant responsibility, and while we cannot single-handedly address all of the environmental challenges that impact our business, we do have the ability to work with our employees to create the kind of psychologically healthy workplace in which both clients and staff and grow and develop,” said Susan Buchwalter, Ph.D., president and CEO. “We are especially proud of the fact that on our annual staff survey, 99 percent of the staff report that the members of their unit help and support each other and 94 percent of staff rate the Center as a good place to work.”

Download a fact sheet about the 2005 winners here

Conclusion
The benefits of a healthy workplace can include increased productivity and employee retention rates, recruiting advantages, company image enhancement, a better workplace atmosphere, as well as workers who are less stressed and more satisfied with their jobs.

A 2000 poll conducted by the American Psychological Association found that one in four employees has taken a “mental health” sick day. According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, health care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress. The benefits of low worker stress extend from a better workplace atmosphere and increased satisfaction to increased productivity and employee retention rates. These organizations are to be commended for recognizing the importance of the psychological health of their employees and their efforts made to not only maintain but also enhance the mental health of their employees. It is OPA’s hope that more organizations will follow in the footsteps of those above.

For more information about Ohio’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, contact Katie Crabtree Thomas at 614-224-0034.

Please also visit the "Best Practice" page to view information about Bank One, a 2003 PHWA Winner and 2004 APA Best Practice Award Winner.