County Commission chair Jan Angel presented the 2003 West Sound Work/Life Partnership Awards, at an awards luncheon held on Dec. 10 at Kitsap Gold and Country Club.

The awards were sponsored by Art Anderson Associates, the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce, Kitsap County Prevention Services, Kitsap Credit Union, the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, and the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

The premise for work/life practices is that employees who are given the necessary support and flexibility to deal with personal concerns such as, child care, elder care and health issues such as, stress and substance abuse, perform their work better and stay longer in their jobs. Not only employers and employees but also families and communities benefit from individuals who are reliable and productive at work.)

The two organizations selected to receive the award completed an extensive application asking them to describe their work/life and drug free workplace policies and programs and to provide employee testimonials regarding their use of these benefits. Applications were reviewed and rated by a selection committee made up of members of the Work/Life Community Partnership.

Each of the organizations selected has an impressive scope of flexible work arrangements and employee benefits in place.
The first award Work/Life Award was presented to the Sycamore Tree Preschool Andrea Campbell, program director, accepted the award.

The Sycamore Tree Preschool is a non-profit preschool accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Located in Bremerton, it and has been in operation since 1981.

The program’s philosophy is to provide children; ages 18 months to 5 years, a nurturing environment that helps them build a positive self-image though intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. All 7 staff members are experienced early childhood educators

In the profession of Early Childhood Education, staff turnover is typically high due to low wages and limited (or nonexistent) benefits. The Sycamore Tree Preschool is able to retain quality staff by paying higher than industry average wages, providing benefits such as, retirement, paid holidays and sick leave, medical benefits, paid continuing education and enrollment fees waived for staff’s children and grand children. Most of the staff has worked at Sycamore Tree for over 15 years.

The second and third awards were presented to KPS Health Plans. KPS President and CEO Elizabeth Gilje accepted the awards.

The first award was an Alumni Award. KPS first won the Work/Life Award in 1998 and has shown progress in developing additional work/life policies.

Although KPS was placed into receivership by the state Insurance Commissioner, the firm created a rehabilitation plan and is moving toward successful emergence from receivership.

An important element of rehabilitation was creating employee compensation and benefits programs that enabled the company to retain its skilled and experienced workforce. As an employer, KPS promotes a corporate culture that focuses on providing an environment that fully supports work/life balance. KPS’s work philosophy is one of flexibility and shared accountability for corporate outcomes.

KPS Health Plans was also the recipient of the 2003 Exemplary Drug Free Workplace Program Award. The insurer has all of the elements of an effective Drug Free Workplace Program. Not only does it have a written policy, the company also works effectively with its Employee Assistance Program, First Choice Health, to provide periodic supervisor and employee training in substance abuse issues and related KPS policies and procedures. KPS also offers treatment and support options for employees who voluntarily seek help for substance abuse problems.