Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > AETN named Ambassador in Governors Work-Life Balance Awards
Posted 16 May 2012
Program honors employers with creative family-friendly benefits.
The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) has been recognized by the Governors Work-Life Balance Awards as a Work-Life Ambassador and a Mature Worker Ambassador.
AETN is one of only six ambassadors for the Governor's Work-Life Balance Program, and one of only two ambassadors for the Mature Workers Program. AETN is the only organization in the history of the awards to be recognized as an ambassador in both categories. Ambassadors share their expertise and success stories with other Arkansas employers to assist with work-life balance issues.
The awards are presented by the Governors Work-Life Initiative, whose mission is to recognize Arkansas employers for establishing and providing resources that support employees in balancing the needs of both work and family. AETN was recognized with the programs highest honors this year, along with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Companies that were nominated for the awards were asked to provide information regarding issues such as health benefits, work-time options and childcare assistance. If a company did not have formal work-life policies, informal ways of making the work environment as family-friendly as possible were taken into account.
This is the fifth year AETN has been honored with Governors Work-Life Balance Awards. AETN has been recognized for several reasons, including: programs such as monthly Growing at Work professional development seminars and safe driving classes; participation in the Arkansas Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program (AHELP), which offers incentives and on-site fitness classes; an open door policy, which encourages staff to discuss ideas and concerns with management; and family friendly practices that encourage long-term employment at the agency.
The Governors Work-Life Balance Award celebrated its 10th year May 8. More than a dozen Arkansas employers were recognized for adopting exemplary strategies that support a healthy work-life balance.
Each year, employers that are considered for the awards answer an array of survey questions about the supportive benefits they offer. The latest survey shows that employers have made great progress over the last 10 years. From the start of this initiative, the number of Arkansas employers that said they offered flexible start/end times increased from 85 to 93 percent, the number of employers that said they offered compensation for military leave increased from 43 to 61 percent, and the number of employers with a work-life balance policy increased from 43 to 61 percent.
Partners in the initiative are Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Business Publishing Group, Arkansas Child Care Resource and Referral Network, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Arkansas Department of Human Services/Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, Arkansas Head Start Collaboration Office, DHS/Division of County Operations, Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, Arkansas Society of Human Resource Managers, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, Arkansas Workforce Investment Board and Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.
AETN has also been honored with the American Psychological Associations (APA) Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2002, 2006 and 2008. One of five employers from across North America to receive APAs workplace award, AETN won in the government/military/educational institution category in 2008. The APA has also recognized AETN as a Best Practices Honoree for its effective use of planning and improvement teams to complete projects. AETN is one of only three national winners in the history of this award program to win both awards.
The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) is Arkansass statewide public television network that enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. For more information, visit www.aetn.org, or follow the AETN blog at www.aetn.org/engage. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), and KETZ (El Dorado).