Wellstar Recognized for Exemplary Workplace Practices

has been honored with the 2011 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for its use of flexibility as an effective workplace strategy to increase business and employee success.

This award, part of the national When Work Works project, recognizes employers of all sizes and types across the country.

“We are honored to receive this recognition for our workplace flexibility,” said David Anderson, executive vice president of human resources and organizational learning/chief compliance officer for WellStar. “WellStar is committed to offering world class healthcare, while also being an exceptional place to work.”

Workplace flexibility—such as flextime, part-time work and compressed workweeks—has been demonstrated to help businesses remain competitive while also benefiting employees as well.

“Our research consistently finds that employees in effective and flexible workplaces have greater engagement on the job and greater desire to stay with their organization. In addition, they report lower stress levels and better overall health,” said Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute, a research think tank on workforce and workplace trends that administers the awards.

The Sloan Awards are unique for their rigorous, two-step selection process, which involves an evaluation of employers’ flexibility programs and practices and a confidential employee survey. All applicants are measured against national norms from Families and Work Insititute’s National Study of Employers.

“As a recipient of the 2011 Sloan Award, WellStar ranks in the top 20 percent of employers nationally in terms of its programs, policies and culture for creating an effective and flexible workplace,” Galinsky said.

When Work Works is a national project to educate the business community on the value of workplace flexibility by sharing research and promising practices, and conducting the annual Sloan Awards.