Kimberly-Clark Professional has announced a new awards program designed to recognize and reward companies that have made a comprehensive corporate commitment to better hand and surface hygiene in the workplace as well as to the education of its employees in the importance of "wash, wipe and sanitize" office hygiene.
The Healthy Workplace Project Award, an additional initiative of Kimberly-Clark's landmark The Healthy Workplace Project, will be awarded to companies that have demonstrated a sustained, significant effort toward breaking the cycle of germ transmission in the workplace. The award recognizes and celebrates the implementation of best practices around office hygiene initiatives as well as employee engagement and education. The announcement of the awards program was made at the 2011 Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference in Washington, D.C.
"We are delighted to introduce a new awards program for companies developing and implementing programs that make our offices a healthier place to be," said Richard Thorne, vice president of Kimberly-Clark Professional North America. “By advocating for and providing education on healthy workplace hygiene habits, businesses can significantly reduce the frequency with which germs are spread throughout the office, creating a positive impact on employee productivity and absenteeism-related expenses. Importantly, a healthier workplace also promotes employee morale and inspires a higher level of engagement between the company and its employee."
The Healthy Workplace Project Award is an annual program. Any office environment is eligible to participate, from those operated by building owners, managed by facility managers and, of course, individual offices. The program is self-nominating and applicants will be asked to complete a questionnaire that will serve as their award submission. Participants will be asked to describe the hand and surface hygiene initiatives their company has implemented, as well as any educational programs that have been introduced to reinforce these initiatives. The application also requires a description of how the success of these initiatives is measured. Applications for the awards will be accepted through April 30, 2012.
The program will be judged by independent, third-party experts in the fields of workplace health, office hygiene and germ transmission. The judges will be announced this summer. Winners, to include a Gold, Silver and Bronze winning company, will be announced at the 2012 BOMA International Conference in June 2012. In addition to other health and wellness awards the grand prize winner will receive $15,000 worth of hand and surface hygiene products from Kimberly-Clark Professional. The second-place winner will also receive an office-based health and wellness award and will receive $10,000 of products. The third-place winner will receive $5,000 of products.
Complete information on The Healthy Workplace Project Award, including a sample award application can be found at www.healthyworkplaceproject.com.