Wellness In The Workplace Awards

To All Virginia Employers:

Do you encourage employee health and family friendly business practices in your work place? Do you have a special program, an exercise opportunity, health classes, or a wellness club? Are your employees more productive as a result of these wellness initiatives?

The Virginia Business Coalition on Health (VBCH), a non-profit, employer driven organization committed to improving the quality and value of health care in the community, is currently accepting nominations for the 2006 Wellness in the Workplace Awards. The awards are open to all businesses in Virginia. You do not need to be a VBCH member to receive the award, although all interested organizations are encouraged to consider membership.

The nominees will be evaluated based on creativity, sustained effort, outcomes (if available), and employee participation. Whether you are a small, medium, or a large business, whatever you are doing to help employees stay healthy is important and we want to hear from you!

Wellness in the Workplace Award winners will be announced on Thursday, June 8, 2006 at the Annual Business & Health Summit to be held at the new Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Winners will receive a commemorative plaque and Certificate of Achievement, which will be presented after the Wellness luncheon. Winners must be present to receive the award. A brochure for this annual event will be available on our website within a week's time. Press releases and photos of Awardees are distributed to all local media outlets. Award results and photos are also posted on this website

Winners will join the ranks with Obici Health System, USAA, Smithfield Foods, City of Virginia Beach, HRSA-ILA Funds, Lillian Vernon, Virginia Natural Gas and Anheuser-Busch-Williamsburg, James City County and others (18 in total). Join our growing list of prestigious winners and tell us how you promote health and family friendly business practices at work.

To nominate your business, please answer the Wellness in the Workplace Awards survey by visiting
http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB22565DLUQA2 and answering all of the questions. Please follow the instructions at the end of the survey to complete the nomination process.

The deadline for completion of the survey and submission of all required documents via mail or email is May 5, 2006.

If you would like additional information regarding the 2006 Wellness in the Workplace Awards or for VBCH membership information, please call the Coalition office at 757.552.0913 or send an email to info@myVBCH.org .

We look forward to your nomination!

Barbara K. Wallace, Ed.D.
President & CEO
Virginia Business Coalition on Health

Susan Tweed, M.S., R.N.
Chair, Wellness Committee, VBCH
Community Health and Prevention
Sentara Healthcare