Best Place to Work
Not For Profit
Small-organization winner
Diversity spoken at Western Health Advantage
Western Health Advantage's company philosophy is to make Sacramento a better place in which to live and work by giving back to the community. The philosophy starts at the top where the president and senior management staff members are active on various community boards and organizations. Company officials think such commitment shows employees that they care about the people and the community they serve and in turn care for them. Feedback received from employee volunteers who participated in charity work during 2005 has been positive and shows that the company is improving morale through its community service.
Communication
Each quarter, the office closes for an afternoon to allow employees to go off-site for an all-staff communication meeting.
During the meeting, the chief executive officer and senior staff members report on the state of the company, new products, upcoming community projects, awards and recognition.
Special appreciation is given for annual audit results.
The company's intranet shares daily updates regarding personnel, community and work-related topics.
Work also was done in 2005 revising the company mission statement and core values.
Policies and benefits
Western Health Advantage provides premium benefits packages designed to attract and retain employees.
The company pays 100 percent of premiums for employees' medical, dental and vision care and 60 percent of premiums for dependents.
In an era of increased health costs and decreasing benefit packages, Western Health Advantage continues to offer full coverage and rich benefits at no cost to employees.
Long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance also are provided by the company at no cost to employees.
Western Health Advantage matches 401(k) investment dollar for dollar as much as 4 percent, and the employer match is fully vested from the beginning of the election.
The company also offers the services of a financial planner to employees, helping them prepare for their future.
Fitness center membership is provided free to employees and is available to spouses for a nominal monthly fee.
Vacation, sick, holiday and personal leave are accumulated through an Earned Time Bank. A new employee can accrue a minimum of 26 days in a year, and, as tenure accumulates, senior employees can receive as many as 41 days a year.
Additional benefits are flexible spending accounts, prepaid legal assistance, group rates for home and auto insurance and supplemental insurance coverage.
While creating its 2005 advertising, Western Health Advantage sought employee participation in its print campaign. More than 25 percent of employees vied for the opportunity to be featured as models in the professional photo shoots.
Commitment to diversity
Western Health Advantage has a very diverse work force. Its recruitment practice is to hire employees who have the ability to communicate well with people in the wider community.
Approximately 33 percent of employees speak a second language.
Western Health Advantage also offers all its benefits to domestic partners and significant others.
*This article was printed in the Sacramento Bee on April 6, 2006.