WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association today announced the recipients of this year’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Honors (PHWH), given to organizations from across the United States and Canada that have created a work environment where employees and business thrive.
A total of 23 employers, including nonprofit, for-profit and governmental institutions of all sizes, received the designation for implementing workplace practices that psychological research has shown promote employee well-being and positive organizational outcomes.
“The employers receiving this honor have demonstrated a commitment to programs and policies that take people and performance into consideration,” said David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence, which oversees the program. “The leaders of these organizations know that building a positive and successful workplace takes both well-designed practices based on good evidence and a supportive environment. The range of sizes and diversity of industries recognized show that any workplace has the potential to be a psychologically healthy one.”
This year’s recipients are:
- Access Development (Utah)
- AREUFIT Health Services (Pennsylvania)
- Autosoft (Pennsylvania)
- Back in Motion Rehab (British Columbia)
- Beach Cities Health District (California)
- Beehive Strategic Communication (Minnesota)
- Bowers + Kubota Consulting (Hawaii)
- Community Health Options (Maine)
- Dakota County (Minnesota)
- Diversified Rehabilitation Group (British Columbia)
- EveryMind (Maryland)
- Imagine IT (Minnesota)
- Indiana Health Group
- JTS Direct (Wisconsin)
- LaSalle Network (Illinois)
- Liberty Puerto Rico
- Machias Savings Bank (Maine)
- Mascoma Bank (New Hampshire)
- Multi-Health Systems (Ontario)
- Optus (Arkansas)
- Tasty Catering (Illinois)
- Team Horner (Florida)
- Utah Foster Care
For almost two decades, APA has celebrated psychologically healthy workplaces. Since the program’s start in 1999, more than 700 organizations have been recognized. The award criteria and evaluation are based on extensive research that psychologists have found help people stay healthy and perform their best on the job.
Following a multi-step application process, applicants are evaluated on their efforts in the five categories that comprise a psychologically healthy workplace: employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. Employee participation in decision-making, skills training and leadership development, flexible work arrangements, and programs promoting healthy lifestyle and behavior choices are just a few of the practices that are found in workplaces receiving the honor.
The application process includes employee questionnaires and site visits by psychologists who meet with organizations’ leaders and employees.
The organizations receiving the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Honors are eligible to be considered for APA’s highest workplace recognition, the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award. Following a competitive evaluation and judging process, the top candidates are selected as the best from among all the PHWH recipients. Award winners will be announced in March 2019.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.