FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, In recognition of its efforts to create a healthy, high-performing work environment, Team Horner received the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2015 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 14. One of five employers from across North America to receive the award this year, the company won in the medium for-profit category.Team Horner excelled in its efforts to foster employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition.
“This is outside confirmation that we are totally committed to teamwork for all the stakeholders in the company – customers, suppliers, employees, the industry and our community” says Dr. Bill Kent, Team Horner owner and president of the 430-employee company.
Team Horner Receiving APA Award in Washington, DC (L to R) Dr. Norman Anderson, APA CEO, Kim Kent, Team Well-being Coordinator, Dr. Bill Kent, President/Owner Team Horner, Dr. Barry Anton, APA President Photo Credit: Larry Canner Photography. Photos Courtesy of the American Psychological Association. Used with permission.”
The wow factor that got the attention of the review panel of psychologists was the “Color Me Healthy” well-being program. Guided by Team Well-being Coordinator, Kim Kent, teams of employees are the ones who decide what well-being programs will be implemented without direction or censorship by management.
Groups within the company have different ideas of what they want. For instance, office workers in Ft. Lauderdale created a quiet room, on-site yoga and meditation, provide stand-up desks and ball chairs and offer nutrition workshops. At the firm’s manufacturing plant, AquaCal/AutoPilot in St. Petersburg, the team offers parenting classes, financial management workshops, on-site workouts with a personal trainer and healthy cooking classes.
Each of the 16 branch locations in Florida chooses their own initiatives and the national sales team from all over the country likes well-being challenges and Fitbits. All teammates can participate in one-to-one well-being coaching on an on-going basis. Certified well-being professionals help employees with stress, nutrition, fitness, weight loss, and/or work/life balance. While it is confidential, employees often share their remarkable results with others.
Most teammates participate in a “True Colors™” personality workshop where they learn how to better understand themselves and others, as well as learn how to more effectively communicate with those least like them. True Colors is kept alive in the company culture with ongoing workshops and activities.
“The Color Me Healthy philosophy is that we view teammates as creative, competent and complete. We don’t exist to fix anyone. We provide opportunities for folks to choose if and how they want to participate,” says well-being coordinator Kim Kent.
Team Horner’s psychologically healthy workplace practices have reaped rewards for both the organization and its employees. In fact, 94% said they feel they can openly communicate with their supervisor. Team Horner programs promoting longevity are working; 25% of employees have been with Team Horner for 10 years or longer, while 56% have been employed for at least five years.
National and State APA Awards
“My personal goal has always been to create an environment where every employee jumps out of bed and can hardly wait to get to work,” says Dr. Bill Kent.
Every other year, the company conducts an employee satisfaction survey in which teammates comment freely and anonymously. In the 2013 satisfaction survey, 90% of employees responded that they welcome the monthly team-wide meetings, held in the Ft. Lauderdale location and the St.Petersburg manufacturing facility, to hear reports from each department.
“Employees notice when an organization legitimately cares about their well-being and are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, committed to the organization and motivated to do their best,” says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence.
APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards are designed to showcase the very best from among the award winners recognized by APA’s affiliated state, provincial and territorial psychological associations. Awards are given to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as government, military and educational institutions.
More information about APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners is available at http://www.apaexcellence.org/media. Organizations interested in learning more about creating a psychologically healthy workplace or applying for an award in their state, province or territory can visit http://www.apaexcellence.org. The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program is a public education initiative from APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence.
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 130,000 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
Interested in joining our award winning team? Check out some of our available openings .