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Monongalia General Hospital

Winning year: 2007
Industry: Hospitals/Healthcare
Location: Morgantown, WV
URL: www.monhealthsys.org

Highlights of 2007 Winning Strategies

Monongalia General Hospital (MGH) reviewed and improved its retiree work opportunities to provide competitive benefits and flexibility. Employees who participate in the Vital Signs Employee Wellness Program receive points throughout the year for participating in varied events. At the end of the year, points may be redeemed for cash.

Additional Policies and Practices:

• Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: Monongalia General Hospital offers these learning and development programs to its full- and part-time employees: tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, on-line training, certification classes, and advanced certification programs. Part-time employees must work at least 20 hours a week to be eligible for the tuition reimbursement program and the certification classes. In the past 12 months, 100% of MGH employees participated in at least one of these training opportunities with an average of 21 hours spent in training. Due to employee request, benefit enhancements have been made, including: implemented new wage system, installed new performance appraisal system, enhanced paid days-off policy which gives employees the opportunity to cash in up to 80 hours of PDO per year (providing the employee has a minimum balance of 80 hours following the cash-in), and established the Wonderful Opportunities Working Program to provide opportunities for co-workers and managers to recognize employees for outstanding service. Employees may gain new experiences by working on temporary assignments in other departments, on team projects, and in formal job rotation programs. MGH's Transitional Work Program provides productive work opportunities (within functional level) to employees to prepare for return to full duties. Job redesigns are also common at MGH.
• Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees (working 20+ hrs/week) receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision and dental insurance, individual and family long-term care insurance, and short- and long-term disability. MGH offers an FSA plan to assist employees with out-of-pocket health care costs.
• Benefits/Financial: Full- and part-time employees are eligible for these retirement plans: 403(b) plan, defined-benefit plan, and a cash-balance plan. MGH offers short-term time off without pay and long-term leaves of absence without pay to allow for caregiving. These wellness programs are offered to full- and part-time employees: flu shots, health screenings, health risk appraisals, smoking cessation programs, health club discounts, physical activity/exercise programs, weight loss programs, and stress management training. Thirty-three percent of MGH employees have utilized at least one of these wellness benefits in the past 12 months. MGH offers on site (grand)childcare and backup care for childcare and care for grandchildren to its full- and part-time employees.
• Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: MGH offers these alternative work arrangements to its full- and part-time employees: flex-time, compressed work schedules, and telecommuting. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent and temporary basis.
• Opportunities for Retirees: MGH currently has 292 retirees and has an individual directly responsible for retiree relations. MGH stays connected with its retirees by communicating regularly, inviting retirees to organization events/celebrations, and formally acknowledging them when they retire. Retirees are offered temporary work assignments, consulting/contract work, telecommuting, and full- and part-time work. MGH has 17 working retirees in casual positions, which allows them to work on an as-needed basis.
• Age of Workforce: Thirty-one percent of MGH employees are 50+. The average tenure of employees age 50+ is 16 years.