Media Release - For Immediate Release

March 16 2009

Healthy Workplace Practices Honoured

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia received a Best Practices honour from the American Psychological Association (APA) at the annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards ceremony on March 6 in Washington, D.C. The College was recognized for its commitment to employees by creating and promoting a healthy workplace.

The College was one of only ten organizations from across the US and Canada to receive the Best Practices recognition at the ceremony. The College won the Nova Scotia Psychological Association’s Provincial-Level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2009, which qualified it to go through the competitive evaluation and judging process for the APA’s Best Practices honours.

“Our committee was very impressed with the College’s focus on psychological and physical health, its warm and engaging atmosphere, and its culture of excellence,” said Dr. Arla Day, chair of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Committee in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program is offered through the American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, with the support of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia and the CN Centre for Occupational Health & Safety at Saint Mary’s University.

In developing its healthy workplace program, the College identified areas that could benefit from further development, such as stress management and mental health resources. New practices were designed and added to the College’s already robust offerings, which include generous staff benefits, training and development, and EAP services.

The College also offers an innovative annual wellness monetary allowance to support gym memberships and other healthy living goals, workshops that address health issues, online health assessments, and a smoking cessation program with a financial incentive and ongoing support.

“Employers who understand the link between employee well-being and organizational performance have a distinct competitive advantage in their ability to attract and retain the very best employees,” says David Ballard, APA’s assistant executive director for marketing and business development. “We congratulate the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia and hope that its example helps showcase the power that a healthy workplace has to drive positive change and help individuals, organizations, and communities thrive.”

“It makes both common sense and business sense to treat employees well. In times of economic uncertainty, this becomes increasingly important,” said Dr. Day. “This award highlights the ‘best of the best’ across Canada and the US, and it is wonderful to have one of our local organizations receive such a prestigious honour.”

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For More Information:

Steve Proctor
External Affairs
Saint Mary's University
(902) 420.5513
E-mail: steve.proctor@smu.ca
www.smu.ca

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