Taunton Press Receives Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award

Newtown-based Taunton Press has received the Connecticut Psychological Association’s 2010 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award.

“We are honored to receive this award recognizing Taunton’s comprehensive efforts to create a positive work environment,” said Sue Roman, president of The Taunton Press. “This award is wonderful recognition of how people throughout our company come together to make Taunton a great place to work.”

The award committee highlighted Taunton’s employee growth and development practices and were especially impressed with Taunton University, the company’s ongoing creative and interactive in-house educational programs. The company also emphasized employee involvement in cross-functional work teams such as Taunton’s Green Team.

In addition to winning the state level award, The Taunton Press has also been nominated for two awards on the national level — the 2011 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award and the 2011 Best Practices Honoree Award.

According to the Connecticut Psychological Association, the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award is presented to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to programs and policies that foster employee health and well-being while enhancing organizational performance. They look specifically at programs and policies around employee involvement, work-life balance, employee growth and development, health and safety, and employee recognition.

The evaluation process for the award included reviewing organizations statewide, selecting those to receive a site visit, conducting employee surveys, one-on-one interviews, and small group meetings.

By recognizing the “best of the best” with this award, the American Psychological Association hopes to demonstrate the variety of ways that organizations of all types can take care of their employees while at the same time enhancing their bottom-line performance.

Established in 1975, The Taunton Press remains a family business in which everyone shares the core values of integrity, teamwork, excellence, independent thinking, and creativity set forth by its founders, Paul and Jan Roman. With four locations, including company headquarters, in Newtown and its distribution center in Naugatuck, Taunton and its employees are very active in the community, supporting local Connecticut organizations through both donations and volunteering.

Volunteer efforts include United Way Day of Caring, American Cancer Society Making Strides Walk, and Habitat for Humanity. The company makes donations to more than 80 local organizations; major ones include Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, Family and Children’s Aid, the Regional Y’s Escape to the Arts program, Newtown Scholarship Association, and the United Way.