INDIANAPOLIS - College scholarships for children, reduced costs for child care and personal services and a paid half-day for holiday shopping are among the perks received by employees at five Indiana companies named recipients of the 2008 Family Friendly Workplace Awards.

The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) in partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced the winners May 7 during a dinner and reception in Indianapolis.

The five chosen for the Family Friendly Workplace Awards are:

• Baker and Daniels, LLC, Indianapolis
• Bowen Engineering Corporation, Fishers
• LaPorte Regional Health System, LaPorte
• Network Solutions, Inc., Granger
• VMS, Inc., Indianapolis.

The winning organizations were selected from among the 66 recipients of the Indiana Chamber's Best Places to Work in Indiana awards.

"Family-friendly policies provide benefits to both employers and their employees," said Bill Stanczykiewicz, IYI's president and CEO. "When employees receive these benefits, they have better relationships with their employers along with higher morale and productivity, which contributes to healthier Hoosier companies and state economy.

"Most important, however, is the positive effect these practices have on families, allowing parents to be more engaged in the lives of their children, which we know from research results in children who become happy, well-adjusted adults."

ModernThink, LLC, a workplace excellence consulting firm, managed the award selection process. To qualify as a Family Friendly Workplace, the recipients first had to be named one of the Indiana Chamber's Best Places to Work in Indiana, as determined by employee surveys and employer reports. ModernThink reviewed those designated as Best Places to Work for unique family-friendly practices, and organizational values, benefits and policies that impact a work-life balance. A pared down list was provided to IYI, which selected the winners of the Family Friendly Workplace Awards.

Highlights of the firms' policies are:
Baker & Daniels, LLP, Indianapolis - The law firm's strategic plan calls for a variety of programs to promote a family friendly workplace, including flexible work schedules, job sharing, reduced hours, telecommuting, pre-tax dependent care accounts, generous allowance for paid sick days and personal days, and a paid half-day for holiday shopping. The firm also supports national events like "Take Your Daughter/Son to Work Day" and sponsors a picnic for employees and their families.

Bowen Engineering Corporation, Fishers - Employees and their spouses may receive yearly health screenings, a professional health coach and a 24-hour nurse line. Participants receive a $30 monthly discount on health insurance premiums and are eligible for cash prizes. Scholarships worth $1,000 are available for children of eligible employees pursuing post-secondary education.

LaPorte Regional Health System, LaPorte - Some of the most popular work-life benefits LRHS employees enjoy are: $50 in the "Wellness Dollar" bank for employees and spouses who complete a health screen; LRHS pays one-third of child care expenses at an approved center; children of employees last year received $97,000 in college scholarships; discounts on diapers, car detailing, dry cleaning and other life expenses.

Network Solutions, Inc., Granger - Family friendly practices are part of Network Solutions' overall corporate values and flexible work hours, work from home, six weeks paid maternity leave for mothers, and five paid days paternity leave for fathers.

VMS, Inc., Indianapolis - Parents receive one week's pay per year of service upon the birth of a child or placement of a child through adoption. Managers may provide flex time for personal appointments, family commitments and health appointments without subtracting from paid time off. Employees with five years tenure may work from home two days a month; and summer hours from June to August allow employees to leave early every Friday to spend time with family.


The Indiana Youth Institute promotes the healthy development of children and youth by serving the institutions and people of Indiana who work on their behalf.