Perspectives Ltd | News and Events

Press Release: September 2007

PERSPECTIVES, LTD. WINS ALFRED P. SLOAN AWARD
FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE IN WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY

3 Local Businesses Receive National Recognition for Business Practices
at Award Ceremony Hosted By The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

[Chicago, IL.] - Perspectives, Ltd. was named a winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility today, distinguishing the employer as one of the top practitioners of workplace flexibility in the nation.

The Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility are part of the When Work Works project, an ongoing initiative of Families and Work Institute, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Twiga Foundation to recognize businesses that are dedicated to making work "work" for the employer and the employees. Through When Work Works, these partner organizations provide research, resources and recognition to businesses nationwide, and share the results of the research on creating effective and flexible workplaces that meet the needs of the 21st century.

Perspectives believes that if employees feel that they are true partners whose needs and opinions are being considered, they will contribute to the objectives of the organization. Since their business is to help organizations develop "people practices" that lead to high performance through Employee Assistance and WorkLife Programs, Coaching, Organization Development, Management Consultation and Counseling, they have a true commitment to providing their employees with flexibility and empowerment. At Perspectives, this is done by flexible work schedules, the ability to move from full to part time employment, job sharing, the ability for some to work from home with all of the tools necessary provided by Perspectives, programs to encourage participation in family (i.e., child and elder care) activities, job mentoring activities to insure that people are able to develop personally and professionally (this includes flexing time for attendance in educational pursuits), full benefits (including health insurance, 401K, EAP, WorkLife resources and employee recognition programs.)

"At Perspectives, our greatest asset is our employees. Their growth, development and well-being has allowed us to grow and provide a work environment that matches the objectives we try and help our organizational and individual clients attain. This award is gratifying because it shows that our people initiatives are working and demonstrates that we practice what we preach in the services we deliver to our clients", said Bernie Dyme, LCSW, CADC, CEAP, President, Perspectives, Ltd.

Other winners of the 2007 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility announced at the awards ceremony include:

- Ernst & Young LLP
- KPMG LLP
- Lee Hecht Harrison
- Honorable Mention, First Midwest Bank

Representing a diverse range of employer size and industry, winners of this prestigious award not only offer excellent workplace flexibility policies and practices, but they also use flexibility as a strategic business tool to benefit business and employees. Each of the winners will be recognized in a national advertisement, just as 2005 and 2006 winners were recognized in USA Today earlier this year.

"Two of the biggest issues for employers in today's economy are recruitment of top talent and retention of valued employees," said Greg Roth, senior manager of programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for a Competitive Workforce. "The business community sees workplace flexibility as a vital piece in a broader plan to develop the strongest possible workforce. As a strategy to stay competitive, workplace flexibility can be a sound business decision for employers no matter the size or industry sector."

Applications for the Alfred P. Sloan Awards were open to all businesses in the greater Chicagoland area with more than 10 employees that had been in business for at least one year. Applicants were evaluated in a rigorous two-step process, first comparing the employer's application to nationally representative data from Families and Work Institute's National Study of Employers, and then validating what employers report against employee responses.

"This award is one of the most rigorous in the country," said Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute. "When comparing the winners to national data, they score in the top 20 percent of all employers in the U.S. - which is phenomenal," she said. "To have employers' data corroborated by their employees is what is most exciting. These businesses understand that workplace effectiveness and flexibility are part of being an employer of choice today. They are truly models for other companies."

Families and Work Institute research finds that effective and flexible workplaces have benefits for employers and employees alike. In fact, employees in effective and flexible workplaces are more likely to be:

- engaged in their jobs and committed to helping their companies succeed;
- satisfied with their jobs; and
- to plan on staying with their employer.

"Ten years of intensive data collection tells us that adopting workplace flexibility practices may be one the most strategic businesses decisions a company can make regarding its work culture," says Patricia Kempthorne, founder and executive director of the Twiga Foundation.

Chicago is one of 24 select communities nationwide chosen to host and participate in the When Work Works initiative. Other communities participating are: Aurora, CO; Boise, ID; Brockton, MA; Chandler, AZ; Chattanooga, TN; Cincinnati, OH; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; Long Beach, CA; Long Island, NY; Melbourne-Palm Bay, FL; Morris County, NJ; Providence, RI; Richmond, VA; Salt Lake City, UT; Savannah, GA; Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; Tampa, FL; Washington, DC; and Winona, MN.

For more information about When Work Works or the Alfred P. Sloan Awards, please contact Elizabeth Miller at (212) 465-8421 or at emiller@familiesandwork.org.

ABOUT Perspectives, Ltd.
Perspectives, Ltd. is a Chicago-based human resources firm specializing in the nationwide delivery of:
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Managed Behavioral Healthcare
- Work/Life Services
- Counseling Services
- Organizational/Management Consultation

Since its inception in 1981, Perspectives' practice has been predicated on an individualized approach to client organizations which emphasizes tailored programs and business solutions with practical applications in the workplace. Perspectives is proactive and timely in response to our client organizations' needs. We believe that early intervention in both individual and organizational issues yields the most effective results. Our goal is to become an integral part of your organization, a trusted partner turned to for strategic planning as well as for problem and crisis resolution. For more information, please visit www.perspectivesltd.com or call (800) 866-7556.

ABOUT WHEN WORK WORKS
When Work Works is a nationwide initiative to highlight the importance of workforce effectiveness and workplace flexibility as strategies to enhance businesses' competitive advantage in the global economy and yield positive business results. When Work Works is a project of Families and Work Institute sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in partnership with The Center for Workforce Preparation, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Twiga Foundation. For more information, visit www.whenworkworks.org.

ABOUT FAMILIES AND WORK INSTITUTE
Families and Work Institute (FWI) is a nonprofit center for research that conducts extensive research on the changing workforce, changing family and changing community. Founded in 1989, FWI's research typically takes on emerging issues before they crest. The Institute offers some of the most comprehensive research on the U.S. workforce available. For more information, visit www.familiesandwork.org.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ICW promotes high educational standards and effective workforce training systems, so that they are aligned with each other and with today's rigorous business demands. Through policy initiatives, business outreach, and a strong grassroots network, ICW is finding solutions that will preserve the American workforce as this country's greatest business asset and its strongest future resource. For more information, visit www.uschamber.com/icw.

ABOUT THE TWIGA FOUNDATION
The Twiga Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, promoting and maintaining a family consciousness at home, in the workplace and in the community. The Twiga Foundation acts as a liaison to key stakeholders in the When Work Works communities to address the issue of flexibility in the workplace. The Foundation helps build a broader leadership constituency for workplace flexibility within each community. For more information, visit www.twigafoundation.org.