(Oakton, Va. – Nov. 24, 2014) Nearly 300 attendees joined Northern Virginia Family Service in recognizing local companies with progressive, family-friendly workplace policies at the 22nd annual CARE Awards Breakfast, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at the Marriott Fair Oaks. The “Companies As Responsive Employers” event celebrated these 12 companies who strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for their employees:
- American Physical Therapy Association contributes 13% of an employee’s salary to their 401(k) regardless of employee contribution. They also match dollar for dollar up to 4%.
- AMERICAN SYSTEMS offers Critical Illness insurance, which provides up to a lump-sum cash payment of $20,000 to help improve financial security in the event a covered medical condition occurs.
- Consumer Electronics Association offers a Mortgage Assistance Program, which allows employees to take advantage of a $25,000 forgivable loan for the purchase of a primary residence within five miles of Arlington County, where CEA is headquartered.
- CustomInk created a wellness program that allows team members to reduce their benefit premiums by completing a series of basic tasks and activities. Inkers with single coverage can earn back up to 100% of their premiums.
- Dimension Data values flexibility in the workplace and uses communications technology that allows 22% of their employees to telecommute full time. In addition, much of the staff telecommutes part-time or works from home on an ad-hoc basis.
- Federal Management Partners maintains an eco-friendly culture and has an established recycling program that eliminates the use of disposable utensils, provides “going green” tips in their newsletter, and offers FSA transit benefits to support employees using mass transit to commute to work.
- Kearney & Company encourages their employees to be active and to have fun through many programs for employee health and wellness, such as the six recreational sports teams that they organize and promote.
- Knight Point Systems, LLC, offers fully-funded profit sharing and a cash balance pension plan after two years of service. Employees have the opportunity to receive up to 7% of their annual salaries in tax-deferred funds and Knight Point also offers a 4% 401(k) match.
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association creates venues for direct employee feedback, including the CEO’s open-door policy, Town Hall Meetings and coffee meetings with new employees.
- Net Impact Strategies, Inc., contributes $150 on behalf of every one of its employees toward a charity that is important to them.
- Obsidian Solutions Group provides unique, family-friendly benefits for their employees, including a $5,000 credit to offset child adoption expenses, salary augments for drilling reservists and tax deductible 529 college savings accounts.
- Titania Solutions Group, Inc. – CEO embraces a “family” atmosphere and is extremely involved in daily culture to include personal emails to staff and frequent site visits.
NVFS also recognized the accomplishment of five CARE Champions, companies who have won the award more than six times and continue to provide policies that enable employees to meet the needs of their families and the demands of their careers:
- Consumer Electronics Association
- CustomInk
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- National Rural Utilities Cooperative Financial Corporation
- Navy Federal Credit Union
A special CARE Champion tribute was bestowed upon NVFS President and CEO Mary Agee, who announced her retirement effective June 30, 2015. Agee received a standing ovation from the crowd applauding her 40 years of dedicated service to NVFS and for her inspiration, along with the Northern Virginia business community, for initiating the CARE Awards program 22 years ago.
Keynote speakers Marc Katz, president and CEO of CustomInk, and Jodi Johnson, president and CEO of Titania, each eloquently detailed the benefits of the CARE program and the role it has played in their company’s bottom line and employee engagement.