National labor and employment law firm Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP has recognized the School District of Lee County with its 2017 Excellence in Work-Life Balance Award. The Constangy program recognizes organizations that actively initiate and create work environments conducive to work-life balance.
Work-life balance programs, through offerings such as flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, telecommuting and job-sharing, can help employees feel truly connected to their companies, fostering loyalty, mutual respect and a positive work environment. A recent study by consulting firm Accenture showed that more than half of the workers studied – male and female – considered work-life balance to be more important to job satisfaction than even compensation or recognition, and said they had turned down a job offer because of the potential impact of the job on work-life balance.
An independent judge, Sara Sutton Fell, selected the school district as this year’s winner of the Constangy award. Sutton Fell is the founder and CEO of FlexJobs, which helps connect employers and employees with flexible job opportunities. “Successful work-life balance efforts can have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line as well as employee morale, making it a smart investment.” She noted the school district’s particular emphasis on wellness through its work-life balance efforts, which have helped the district maintain a negative trend in healthcare costs for the third year in a row, with no plan design changes. Wellness programs offered by the school district include stress resilience, programs to address risk factors for chronic health conditions such as heart disease, and on-site exercise classes at different locations.
The school district will receive a commemorative crystal trophy and $1,000 donation to help fund district-sponsored scholarships.
“The School District of Lee County understands the importance of work-life balance. Our commitment to wellness initiatives is one of our most successful strategies in is helping employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, said Angela Pruitt, the district’s chief human resources officer.
The award was presented to the school district on Tuesday, April 18th by Damon Kitchen, a partner in Constangy’s Jacksonville office. “Work-life balance has been proven over and over again to be an important factor in maintaining morale and productivity, which in turn helps prevent problems and improves overall performance. We’re always proud to recognize great organizations like the School District of Lee County that are going above and beyond to create and maintain great workplaces.”
For more information about work-life balance, visit www.constangy.com/balance.html.
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About Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP:
Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete offers a wider lens on workplace law. We have counseled employers exclusively since 1946. With offices in 15 states, we are one of the largest labor and employment law practices in the U.S. Constangy has been named as a top firm for women and minorities by organizations including Law360, the National Law Journal and Vault.com. Many of our more than 180 attorneys have been recognized by leading authorities such as Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers in America® and Martindale Hubbell. Find out more about us online at www.constangy.com or follow us on Twitter @ConstangyLaw.
About The School District of Lee County:
Lee County Public Schools is the ninth-largest district in Florida and the 33rd-largest school district in the United States. They proudly educate over 90,000 students in grades K-12. The District is a model for others in the state and nation - from the Microsoft Certified High School (Dunbar High) to the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (The Sanibel School) to one of the top IB high schools in the world (Fort Myers High). Schools in Lee County play a key role in community life. With 12,000+ full- and part-time employees, the School District is one of the county's largest employers, and with the District's construction program, building new schools and renovating and expanding existing facilities, the District has been the area's largest developer.