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Rio Salado College Recognized as a Healthiest Employer Award Honoree by Phoenix Business Journal
At Rio Salado College, sustainable practice is one of our core values. We are committed to actively fostering an environment that promotes health and wellness for our employees and students. We are proud to announce that Rio Salado was recognized on April 29th, 2021 by Phoenix Business Journal as a 2021 Healthiest Employer Award honoree!
"We are honored to be recognized for this significant work around health and wellness. I appreciate the extraordinary efforts by the wellness team, especially Christin Franco and Keelie Howell, to establish Rio as a Phoenix Business Journal Healthiest Employer," said Kate Smith, President.
Healthiest Employers is an annual awards program established by the Phoenix Business Journal that honors Valley businesses and institutions with the most outstanding health and wellness programs. Rio Salado College represented the Maricopa Community Colleges district at the virtual awards event on April 29.
Rio’s commitment to health and wellness is a vital component of the school’s culture.
"The data is clear: employee wellness programs work and the return on our investment has rippling effects," said Maria Bellino, Rio Salado's Associate Vice President of Employee Services. "We are also striving to provide professional and personal enrichment that’s lasting— and improves the quality of work and home life. In some cases, it can save lives.”
In addition to offering wellness classes and providing engagement workshops designed to promote and develop key practices like mindfulness, empathy, happiness, and resilience, Rio Salado also produces a weekly newsletter that encourages the college community to commit to a healthy lifestyle.
“Our new Wellness Wednesday Newsletter incorporates two aspects of wellness. The first aspect is our eight dimensions of wellness - emotional, spiritual, occupational, financial, social, intellectual, financial, and physical. Additionally, the second aspect being our Four Practices of Engagement - mindfulness, empathy, happiness, and resilience. These practices have been adopted across our college community to help employees incorporate these concepts into action in their own lives,” said Smith.
Rio Salado employees can learn more about the wellness services that are available by going to our Wellness site or by checking the “Employee Services” section on the EP Portal.