Awards launched to recognise exceptional employers in health and wellness

For the first time in the wellness and integrated health industry, an innovative awards programme has been launched to recognise and celebrate exceptional employers. The Olive Awards will identify the highest quality employers of all sizes, providing companies with the incentive and tools necessary to measure employee satisfaction across a range of areas including: Recruitment and retention; Training and personal development; Company values and motivations; Social and environment responsibility; Health and safety.

Companies eligible to enter the awards include spas, beauty and nail salons, health clubs and leisure centres; hair salons; retailers of beauty products and all suppliers to these sectors including product houses and equipment manufacturers.

The Awards highlight the need for employers to take responsibility for sustainability in relation to both their people and the environment, acknowledging and rewarding those companies which have a vision to be a ëBusiness of the Futureí.

The simple and transparent process to measure companies entails a percentage of employees completing confidential online questionnaires. The questions have been developed in conjunction with Dr Tracy Morgan who is a specialist within the field of physical and psychological wellness.

Companies entering the awards this summer will enjoy a wide range of benefits including:

- The right to use their Olive Award Rating in marketing and recruitment activity

- The opportunity to be nationally recognised on the listing of ëExceptional Employers ñ The Top 50í in the wellness and integrated health sector

- A cost effective tool to measure employee satisfaction

- A report highlighting their company ratings results, including results for each category

- The opportunity to purchase specific analysis of their ratings results relating to their business requirements

- Recognition as an organisation that has made a significant contribution to sustainable development

- Suggestions and methods to improve environmental performance

- Access to an on-line directory of solution driven businesses that can assist companies enhance their business and address some of the areas for improvement from their ratings

- Publicity resulting from their success

Commenting on the rationale behind the awards, Dr Tracy Morgan from Harmonic Health, says: ìRetention of quality staff is a key challenge for many businesses operating in the health and wellness sector, and these Awards have been developed to assist in addressing this issue - highlighting best practice and enabling employers to assess the effectiveness of their own operations in an objective manner.î

Companies wishing to enter The Olive Awards 2007 can now register on the website - theoliveawards.com, with employees completing their online questionnaires throughout September, October and November. The announcement of the ëExceptional Employers ñ The Top 50í list and presentations will take place at The Olive Awards ëCelebration of Successí evening in central London on Wednesday February 13, 2008.

The Olive Awards have been endorsed by Dr. Tracy Morgan from Harmonic Health. Supporting companies include Hairandbeautyjobs.com, Red Hot Careers (RED), Hawkins Muiderman, The Beyond Organic Foundation, ISRM and The Leisure Database Company. For sponsorship opportunities please e-mail theoliveawards@promotepr.com.