July 30, 2002

Electronic newsroom

02-62

Brookhaven Lab Receives Award for Psychologically Healthy Workplace

UPTON, NY — The U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory has been awarded a “Gold Award” by the New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA) for having the best psychologically healthy workplace in the state of New York, in the category of large, non-profit organizations.
 

Pictured are (left to right): Joshua Erhlich, Catherine Masterson, (NYSPA), Susan Foster, Brookhaven Employee Relations Manager and Joseph Gisondo, Manager of Brookhaven's Employee Assistance Program. Hi-res version of this photo (564 kB).

Presented for the first time this year, the Gold Award recognizes employers who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to their employees’ psychological health and well-being. With the award, NYSPA honors Brookhaven for “providing an environment that nurtures creativity and the growth and development of its diverse, and highly skilled and highly trained workforce.”

“Brookhaven takes an all-around approach to ensuring a psychologically healthy workplace,” said Susan Foster, the Laboratory’s Employee Relations Manager. “We understand that people are healthiest when they are treated with respect and acknowledged for their contributions.”

Foster and the Joseph Gisondo, Manager of the Lab’s Employee Assistance Program, received the Gold Award at a ceremony in New York City on June 14.

A private, non-profit professional association representing licensed psychologists, NYSPA’s mission is to advance science and psychology while supporting education, training, research, advocacy and service. To be considered for the award, Foster submitted an essay describing the Lab’s many health-oriented programs including the health lecture series, employee assistance program, child development center, and a variety of lab-sponsored sports and fitness clubs. Also, a team of four psychologists visited Brookhaven and interviewed Laboratory staff members and employees.

 

The U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies. Brookhaven also builds and operates major facilities available to university, industrial, and government scientists. The Laboratory is managed by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited liability company founded by Stony Brook University and Battelle, a nonprofit applied science and technology organization.