FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas earned the highest award possible among the state’s largest employers when winners of the Governor’s Work-Life Balance Awards were announced this week in Little Rock.

The university received a Gold Award as part of the Governor’s Work-Life Balance Initiative, established to recognize Arkansas employers for establishing and providing resources that support employees in balancing the needs of both work and family.

“This is a great honor for the university, and we are very proud to receive this award,” said Barbara Taylor, associate vice chancellor for human resources. “We have worked very hard over the years to make the University of Arkansas more than just a great place to work. We feel we have the duty to enrich the lives of our faculty and staff members in much the same way we enrich the lives and minds of our students.” Taylor added that the university has received bronze or silver awards in each year since the program began in 2003, but that this is the first time the institution took home the gold.

The university and other companies nominated for the awards were asked to provide support information about health benefits, employee services and other ways the institution makes the work environment as family-friendly as possible.

The university cited a variety of benefits, including health screenings, health counseling and flu immunization programs; free bus service; the RazAlert emergency notification system; employee orientation and development programs; Web-based human services forms and information; a 90-percent tuition discount for employees; and additional discounts for cultural and athletic events on campus.

Partners in the Governor’s Work-Life Balance Initiative are Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Business Publication Group, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, Child Care Resource and Referral Network, and the Society of Human Resource Managers. The following state offices and agencies are also partners in the initiative: the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Department of Education, the Department of Workforce Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, DHS Communications, DHS Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, DHS Division of County Operations, and the Office of the Governor.