Montgomery County, Maryland Employer a Leader in Diversity, EcoLeadership, Health and Wellness, and Overall Workplace Quality.
Rockville, MD - June 10, 2016 - In a ceremony held today in Bethesda, Maryland, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) was recognized by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE) in each of its four major employer awards categories for 2016.
The annual AWE awards program honors employers for their exemplary commitment to building excellent places to work in Montgomery County and throughout the United States. ASHA has earned AWE's Award of Excellence since 1999, when the award was first created. ASHA has earned each of the other awards every year since the awards' inception.
"ASHA is once again thrilled and honored to earn these prestigious awards from the Alliance for Workplace Excellence," said Arlene A. Pietranton, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer of ASHA. "It is a gratifying recognition of the efforts we continually make to foster an inclusive, diverse, healthy, and socially responsible workplace—one that well represents our membership of audiologists and speech-language pathologists that is guided by the same principles."
ASHA earned the following awards:
Diversity Champion Award—Diversity Champions are companies committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Their diversity initiatives extend beyond their workplace to include diversity in their products and services and supplier diversity. Applicants are recognized on the basis of many components, including leadership, workforce demographics, and diversity in products and services.
EcoLeadership Award—Award-winning employers demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability in the following categories: waste minimization, water conservation, pollution prevention, environmentally conscious travel, and energy efficiency. To be considered for the award, businesses must complete a comprehensive and rigorous assessment process led by an independent review panel of academics and business professionals.
Health & Wellness Seal of Approval—Employers that earn this award provide innovative programs for employee health and wellness. These programs may include health risk assessments; employee health fairs; support for physical activity and healthy eating programs; on-site fitness facilities; healthy options at food facilities; employee access to nurses, coaches, and other professionals; educational sessions on healthy lifestyles; and incentives for participation in wellness programs.
Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval—Applicants undergo a comprehensive evaluation process in order to be considered for this award. The winners demonstrate outstanding commitment to balanced leadership and the overall success of their workforce. They are assessed in the following areas: innovative corporate culture and management practices; family- and employee-friendly policies and programs; strong health and wellness initiatives; employee growth and learning opportunities; commitment to corporate, social, and civic responsibility; diversity and inclusion practices; flexible work environment; and safety and security.
For more information about working at ASHA and a list of current job openings, visit https://www.asha.org/Careers/ASHA-jobs/.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 186,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders. www.asha.org
