Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards

2004 Best Practices Honors Program

Ten Best Practices were selected as part of the American Psychological Association's Best Practices Honors. Launched in 2003, this national program recognizes companies for innovative programs and policies that stand out for their facilitation of a psychologically healthy workplace.

Nominees for this national honor were selected from the pool of previous state-level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners and submitted for consideration by the psychological association in the U.S. state or Canadian province in which the company is located. Following a competitive evaluation and judging process, the top ten best practices described here were selected for national recognition.

2004 Honorees

Click on the links below to read more about the Best Practices of the 2004 Honorees.

Picking Their Own Peers

Washington--At most companies, a new employee is hired by the supervisor and hopes to fit well with the team. But at Steelscape teams are responsible for the hiring. Read more

Bouncing Back From Theft

British Columbia, Canada--When a person is robbed, the effects can last long after the crime, but when the workplace itself is a target for crime, trauma can affect the entire workforce. VanCity Savings Credit Union in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada has faced this very problem for years and has developed the "Robbery Intervention Program" to help deal with it. Read more

Broad-Based Training Helps Employees Adapt to Change

New York--Versatility is key to getting and staying ahead in today's rapidly changing workplace. Liberty Precision Industries, a high-technology machine-building company in Rochester, NY, understands this reality. In response, Liberty instituted an ongoing development program called the "Liberty Culture Change Process." Read more

Senior Living for All Ages

Utah--Upon walking into Silverado Senior Living's Aspen Park facility, visitors are just as likely to hear the giggles of children as they are the laughter of elderly residents. That's because this senior living community encourages family members of both residents and staff to participate in the facility's activities. Read more

Taking Employee Opinions to the Bank

South Carolina--Employee opinions can be useful tools for helping to improve the work environment and implement change. This concept drives the "Employee Expectations Survey," first instituted by senior managers at South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT) in response to high levels of employee turnover and workplace stress. This simple idea has brought profound change that is welcomed by employees at all levels. Read more

Fighting Domestic Abuse Through Education

Ohio--Domestic abuse may seem like a personal issue limited only to the home, but its effects often spill over into the workplace. Recognizing this reality, Bank One has established the "Recognize and Refer" program to address the serious employee health and well-being, workplace safety, and fiscal implications of domestic abuse. Read more

Putting the "Public" Back in Public Works

Oregon--In the private sector, customer service is often seen as the key to business growth and success. However, in the public sector, where the taxpayer is both customer and main funding source, the difficulties of balancing the regulatory and fiscal realities of government with high-quality service can result in customer discontent and low employee morale. The Public Works Department (PWD) of the City of Albany, Oregon was having a hard time dealing with this customer/taxpayer duality. Under the guidance of a new director, PWD decided to take a cue from the private sector and draft a new business plan with a focus on improving the department's image through improved customer service. Read more

Lunch Seminars Feed Minds and Nourish Personal Growth

Arkansas--After using business coaches and consultants to develop and implement a successful systems improvement program in his dental office, Donald A. Deems, III, DDS, PA realized that improved team functioning depends on better employee development. Deems promptly began working with his staff to develop the "Lunch-n-Learn" program, a series of bi-weekly meetings that cover a broad range of personal and professional development topics. Read more

Rewards Plus Reinforcement Equals a Recipe for Rebuilding

Hawaii--At Otsuka's Furniture & Appliances developing a work environment that feels like "home" is a central focus. However, this approach goes far beyond the products this Kauai-based retail business supplies to its customers. Read more

Coaching Skills Lead Team to Victory

New Mexico--Sysco Food Services of New Mexico has found that successful coaching makes a good team even better. To help managers develop the necessary skills to build a strong team, Sysco worked with the University of New Mexico to create a customized management development course called "Coaching Skills for Managers." Read more

"We have always known that the key to our success is the way we care about our fellow workers. Winning this award is a welcome confirmation that we are on the right track."

Ken Golder
Holiday Inn River Centre

Click here to download the 2004 Best Practice Honors Brochure (PDF, 13.6MB)