iWin Report Highlights Work-life Innovations at State Businesses
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2007) − The Institute for Workplace Innovation (iWin), an interdisciplinary
research institute of the University of Kentucky, today released a report of Kentucky businesses
successfully accommodating the personal needs of employees while maintaining productivity in the
workplace.
"Making Workplaces Work: Employer Best Practices in Kentucky" details 24 of the state's large and small companies that have increased employee efficiency, retention and job satisfaction by integrating innovative workplace practices into their day-to-day operations.
“The workforce of the 21st century is much different than in years past. The fast pace of society dictates that workers manage multiple responsibilities at work and at home. The focus of iWin is to help employers develop effective workplaces that strive for work-life balance without compromising their own need for profitability and productivity,” said Jennifer E. Swanberg, executive director of iWin and associate professor in the UK College of Social Work.
Innovative practices in the report include programs at Compressed Air Parts and Services of Mayfield, Ky., which offers employees information on financial planning through its “Lunch and Learn” series, and at Bluegrass Auto Body in Lexington, whose “families come first” philosophy permits flexibility in working hours so parents can attend their children’s school and sports activities.
Also included in the report are larger area employers such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Georgetown, which operates a 24-hour child care center on site, and Norton Healthcare in Louisville, which offers forgivable loans, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement and scholarships.
Copies of the 80-page report are available to the public at no charge by contacting the Institute by phone at (859) 296-1089 or by e-mail. An online version of "Making Workplaces Work" is also available on the institute’s Web site.
The report on workplace innovations in the Commonwealth comes only days after iWin's executive director received national praise for research and contributions to work-life effectiveness. Swanberg, who joined the UK faculty in 2003, was selected as one of the first recipients of the national Work-Life Rising Star Award by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP), a global organization for the advancement of work-life effectiveness.
"Making Workplaces Work: Employer Best Practices in Kentucky" details 24 of the state's large and small companies that have increased employee efficiency, retention and job satisfaction by integrating innovative workplace practices into their day-to-day operations.
“The workforce of the 21st century is much different than in years past. The fast pace of society dictates that workers manage multiple responsibilities at work and at home. The focus of iWin is to help employers develop effective workplaces that strive for work-life balance without compromising their own need for profitability and productivity,” said Jennifer E. Swanberg, executive director of iWin and associate professor in the UK College of Social Work.
Innovative practices in the report include programs at Compressed Air Parts and Services of Mayfield, Ky., which offers employees information on financial planning through its “Lunch and Learn” series, and at Bluegrass Auto Body in Lexington, whose “families come first” philosophy permits flexibility in working hours so parents can attend their children’s school and sports activities.
Also included in the report are larger area employers such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Georgetown, which operates a 24-hour child care center on site, and Norton Healthcare in Louisville, which offers forgivable loans, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement and scholarships.
Copies of the 80-page report are available to the public at no charge by contacting the Institute by phone at (859) 296-1089 or by e-mail. An online version of "Making Workplaces Work" is also available on the institute’s Web site.
The report on workplace innovations in the Commonwealth comes only days after iWin's executive director received national praise for research and contributions to work-life effectiveness. Swanberg, who joined the UK faculty in 2003, was selected as one of the first recipients of the national Work-Life Rising Star Award by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP), a global organization for the advancement of work-life effectiveness.