Minnesota Employers to Showcase Work-Life Initiatives During October's National Work and Family Month by Applying for 2008 Minnesota Work-Life Champions(TM) Awards Minnesota employers can visit www.worklifechampions.org to apply through Oct. 31, 2007 Monday October 08, 2007 14:35:01 EDT

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 08, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE)

Minnesota employers are leaders in work-life initiatives that help employees balance work and personal time--whether it's incorporating a flexible work schedule policy to give an employee more time to spend with children, or providing leave options for an employee to be at home with a sick family member. As National Work and Family Month kicks off this October, a state-wide awards program provides an opportunity for Minnesota employers to showcase some of these unique initiatives being implemented for employees throughout the state.

Employers have less than a month left to submit their applications for the Minnesota Work-Life Champions(TM) Awards, an award program in its third year that recognizes the efforts of employers who implement outstanding business policies to support flexible work-life cultures. Applications are available at www.worklifechampions.org and are due no later than Oct. 31, 2007. To help encourage employers of all sizes to apply, a simplified application for small employers has been added to the program this year.

Small and large, for-profit, non-profit and public sector employers are eligible in five size categories ranging from five employees to more than 3,000. Applicants are asked to provide information on organizational culture and leadership; work practices and flexibility; health, wellness and benefits; leave options; help with personal and family issues; community involvement; and a brief survey of a small number of employees.

The 2008 judging panel will identify up to 10 employers in each size category as Minnesota Work-Life Champions, with one employer in each category receiving the top honor of Outstanding Minnesota Work-Life Champion. A special award will also be presented to one or more employers who have implemented the "Most Innovative Work-Life Initiative." Award winners will be announced and recognized at a luncheon ceremony on Jan. 30, 2008.

Twenty-two Minnesota employers with as few as five employees to more than 3,000 were recognized during the 2007 Minnesota Work-Life Champions Awards. Examples of winning work-life policies include offering flexibility and control over work schedules; holiday and illness leave; dependent care assistance; informational programs to help employees meet personal and family challenges; and systems of communication for employees to express their opinions on issues relating to both organizational operations and how they are treated as employees. For summaries of work-life balance efforts made by the 2006 and 2007 winners, visit www.worklifechampions.org.

The Minnesota Work-Life Champions Awards are offered by The Minnesota Work-Life Champions Partnership, a group of local chambers of commerce, business and professional associations, foundations and non-profit work-life advocacy organizations committed to making Minnesota's employers the strongest in the nation. The awards program was initiated by a grant from The McKnight Foundation and is managed and organized by the Center for Ethical Business Cultures.

About the Center for Ethical Business Cultures:

The Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC) at the University of St. Thomas assists business leaders in creating ethical and profitable business cultures at the enterprise, community and global levels. CEBC, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit, was founded in 1978 by Minnesota business leaders and is supported primarily by its member companies.

For more information about the 2008 Minnesota Work-Life Champions Awards, contact David Rodbourne, vice president at the Center for Ethical Business Cultures at (651) 962-4122 or visit www.worklifechampions.org.

SOURCE: Center for Ethical Business Cultures

Center for Ethical Business Cultures David Rodbourne, 651-962-4122 dhrodbourne@cebcglobal.org or Padilla Speer Beardsley Catherine Claeys, 612-455-1719 cclaeys@psbpr.com

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