Firms praised for loyalty to employees

By Brianna Lange
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:03/02/2007 11:40:41 PM MST

Winners will be honored during an April 5 awards luncheon at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. Attendees can go to workshops and watch video presentations about the winning companies.
Those interested in attending must register before March 16 at www.jobs.utah.gov/jsp/occ/worklife/celebration.do. Cost to attend is $25 per person, or $175 for a table of eight. Proceeds from the event will go to Care About Child Care Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization.
Contact the Work/Life Award team with questions: 801-526-4321 or worklife@utah.gov.

A total of 122 companies entered to win the state's Utah Work/Life Awards this year - the most in the competition's nine-year history.
On Friday, the field was winnowed to just 16 companies that display a strong concern for employee needs and the workplace. Companies were honored in three categories: micro (fewer than 50 employees), medium (50 to 500 employees) and large (over 500 employees).
One standout winner: US Synthetic Corp. of Orem. This was the first year the company had applied.
"We never see that," said Pam Ballo, coordinator for the awards. "We tell companies that it's great to make it to the final stage the first year."
Companies have different qualities that make them stand out, but one aspect that almost all of the companies share is an interest in the health and wellness of employees, she said.
"The companies are trying to help employees be healthy," Ballo said. "They've noticed that it has an effect on health-care costs and absenteeism. It also helps the companies keep health-care premiums low."
Nominations began in September. The 122 companies that applied were then narrowed down to 26 finalists, and Ballo and others then chose the 16 winners by reviewing the applications and visiting the work sites.

The winners
MICRO (fewer than 50 employees)
* DoxTek, Inc. and Utah Foster Care Foundation. While DoxTek is first-time winner, this is the second year in a row that Utah Foster Care Foundation has won.
MEDIUM (from 50 to 500 employees)
* Digital Draw Network; Futura Industries; Intermountain Financial Group/Mass Mutual; Nicholas and Company; Redmond Inc.; Roofers Supply; and The Leavitt Group. This is the eighth Work/Life Award for Futura Industries, and the sixth for Nicholas and Company and Redmond Inc.
LARGE (over 500 employees)
* 1-800-CONTACTS; America First Credit Union; ARUP Laboratories; Citi Cards; Mountain America Credit Union; Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah; and US Synthetic Corporation. 1-800-CONTACTS, ARUP Laboratories, Citi Cards, Mountain America Credit Union, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah have all won the award in the past.