Goldenwest Recognized for Exemplary Workplace Practices

OGDEN, UT: August 19, 2013 – Goldenwest Credit Union has been honored with the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility for its use of flexibility and other aspects of workplace effectiveness as a workplace strategy to increase business and employee success.

This prestigious award, part of the national When Work Works project administered by Families and Work Institute (FWI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognizes employers of all sizes and types in Utah and across the country.

“At Goldenwest, we subscribe to the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’ with our employees as well as our members,” said Kerry H. Wahlen, Goldenwest President/CEO. “We believe that when we take great strides in caring for our employees, they will go the extra mile to take care of our members and organization.”

Wahlen noted that a positive and effective corporate culture is always a work in progress.

“In 2012 we added a robust employee Wellness Program to our benefit package,” continued Wahlen. “Through this program, our employees have access to coaches to create individual plans that enhance personal well-being in areas such as physical exercise, nutrition, stress reduction and mental health.”

The Sloan Awards are unique for their rigorous, two-step selection process, which involves an evaluation of employers’ flexibility programs and practices, and a confidential employee survey on the key ingredients of an effective and flexible workplace. All applicants are measured against national norms from the National Study of Employers.

“As a recipient of the 2013 Sloan Award, Goldenwest ranks among the top 20% of employers nationally in terms of its programs, policies and culture for creating an effective and flexible workplace,” said Ellen Galinsky, FWI president. “In addition, what makes this honor so special is that their employees have corroborated this, affirming that it is indeed an effective and flexible workplace.”

When Work Works is a national project to educate the business community on the value of workplace flexibility by sharing research and promising practices, and conducting the annual Sloan Awards. It is an ongoing initiative of FWI and SHRM.

For more information about the When Work Works initiative and the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility, visit www.whenworkworks.org.

About Goldenwest Federal Credit Union

Founded in 1936, the Ogden-based credit union currently holds $848 million in assets, has more than 90,000 members and operates 21 branches with offices in Weber, Morgan, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Washington Counties. Goldenwest is a leading provider of consumer loans, mortgages, free checking services and deposit products throughout Utah.

Goldenwest recently announced its intent to merge with USU Credit Union, which holds $139 million in assets, serves 17,000 members and operates five branches located Cache and Box Elder Counties. The merger has received approval from the NCUA and expected to be complete before year end.

Learn more about Goldenwest at www.gwcu.org, follow us on Twitter @GoldenwestCU and @GoldenwestCUCEO, like us at Facebook.com/GoldenwestCU and check out our videos at YouTube.com/GoldenwestCU.

About When Work Works

When Work Works is a national initiative, led by the partnership of Families and Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), to help businesses of all sizes and types become more successful by transforming the way they view and adopt effective and flexible workplaces. When Work Works is one of the foremost providers of resources, rigorous research and best practices on workplace effectiveness and flexibility in the nation. The initiative administers the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility annually, which recognize exemplary employers for using flexibility as part of an effective workplace strategy to increase business and employee success. Visit www.whenworkworks.org and follow us on Twitter @WhenWorkWorks @FWINews and @SHRMPress, and join the workflex conversation on Facebook.com/FWINews.