LIFE named county's Employer of the Year by Tri-County Workforce Investment Board
An organization whose employees work to care for the county's elderly recently won an award for caring for those dedicated employees.
LIFE (Living Independence For the Elderly) Butler County was named the county's Employer of the Year by the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board. Winners were named in Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties.
According to a news release sent by Tri-County, LIFE Butler County was this year's honoree because the organization, a branch of Lutheran Senior Life, participated in many areas of workforce development, collaboration and support within the past year.
“LIFE is focused on workplace culture and the employee experience to deliver services within the community of Butler County,” the release said.
LIFE Butler County's administration analyzed results from an employee engagement survey and involved staff to identify ways to improve the overall culture at the office and in the field.
After collecting data from employees via suggestion box, face-to-face conversations, emails and other means, the administrative team created ways to better engage the workforce at LIFE.
LIFE's administration instituted several objectives aimed at bettering its workplace culture. These including an employee recognition board, monthly recognition events, monthly pizza lunches complete with ice cream treats, flexible schedules, weekly department meetings, an employee roundtable, tuition reimbursement, as well as several other actions.
Another plan was created to transition new hires into their roles at LIFE, and managers were provided with education on overall culture best practices like the importance of respect in the workplace.
Marla Frailey, director at LIFE Butler County, said she was stunned when Lutheran Senior Life's human resources department called to tell her LIFE had won the coveted award.
“I was stunned, but it's very much an honor to say we are Employer of the Year for Butler County,” Frailey said.
LIFE Butler County employs around 100 workers. The organization has been in business since 2008, which is when Frailey became its director.
The all-inclusive health care program for individuals older than age 55 provides physician services, social workers, dieticians, nurses, nurse practitioners and activities at the Day Center on West Wayne Street.
Professionals also go into the community to help seniors remain in their familiar surroundings.
“The philosophy is to allow people to age in place in their homes,” Frailey said.
She said her open-door policy with employees and the myriad other programs at LIFE Butler County are meant to support employees and helps the organization provide exemplary care to seniors.
“You need to be happy to come to work,” Frailey said. “You need to enjoy your work environment.”
She said sometimes the staff works so hard to care for clients that they forget to care for themselves.
“The staff works hard every day,” Frailey said. “They are the front line and represent us in the community. You've got to allow them to care for others without feeling run down or underappreciated.”
The award was presented to LIFE staff members at the Dec. 6 Tri-County Workforce Investment board of directors meeting.
Diamond Drug Stores in Indiana County, and Kensington HPP, a manufacturer of residential vinyl replacement windows and doors in Armstrong County, were the other two Employer of the Year winners.
