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The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards
By Denis Orellana
June 7, 2007, Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside

Wightman says today's workplace must embrace "pro-social goals" — photo: A. Grimes

Wightman discussed the importance of cultivating psychologically healthy workplaces and the value of philanthropy to overall psychological health and well-being.

She said, "[It is imperative that] workplaces provide their employees with an opportunity to give back to their community, encouraging their employees to make a difference beyond the work itself to allow for personal meaning in life, and to demonstrate that the organization itself embraces pro-social goals."

According to Wightman, by taking this approach, companies make it clear to employees and to the public that the organizational goals contribute to the greater social good and that the organization is not just concerned about the bottom line and making a profit.

"In B.C., by 2011, any new jobs that will be filled will be filled by new immigrants because of the projected shortage in the workforce," said Wightman. She adds, "This should be a warning to all of us that the attraction, motivation, satisfaction and retention of human talent will become even more critical over the next five years."

Wightman implores all employers to ensure they are doing everything to recruit and, more importantly, to retain their workforce. In addition, they should make sure they are providing their employees with personal meaning in life.

The awards presented today recognized companies that have provided exemplary encouragement and opportunities in one of five categories: Employee Involvement, Employee Recognition, Work-Family-Life Balance, Employee Growth & Development, and Health & Safety.

The winners were:

• In the small not-for-profit category: Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre Association
• In the large not-for-profit category: Vancouver Community College
• In the small for-profit category: Executive Strategies Limited
• In the large for-profit category: Westminster Savings Credit Union
• In the sponsor applicant large not-for-profit category, there was a tie: Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) and WorkSafeBC
• In the sponsor large for-profit category: British Columbia Automobile Association

Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees.

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