Bates College has been selected for a Best Practice Award from the New England Employee Benefits Council (NEEBC). The award recognizes Bates’ Employee Enrichment Week, held annually in June, as a standout program, showcasing “the importance of wellbeing and the essential role it plays in a favorable work environment.” 

Patty Rooney, associate vice president for human resources, said that the award affirms Bates’ commitment to its employees. “We have been focused on improving employee wellness and health outcomes for several years,” Rooney said. “We’ve been expanding and diversifying programs, educating and communicating wellness resources, and encouraging the Bates community to join us in this journey. This award recognizes the tremendous effort that the HR team and our Wellness Ambassadors have expended to continually enhance, innovate, and promote our wellness programming across our campus.”

Bates’ Employee Enrichment Week in June offers community lunches, the B-Well 5k Run/Walk, and an offering of short courses for Bates employees, typically taught by colleagues. This year’s courses included “Sourdough 101: From TikTok to Tangy Loaves,” “Making Mappettes: Celebrate the Tiny Places We Love!” and “Interviewing Tips & Tricks.” Activities included a kickball showdown and morning flow yoga. Human Resources describes Employee Enrichment Week as a “celebration of a job well done and an opportunity for our staff and faculty to connect, elevate their skill sets, and feel empowered to try new things.”

Brittany Pleau-Richardson, director of benefits and employee wellness, described the commitment Bates makes to supporting employee well-being as consistent, on-going, and comprehensive — considering employees in terms of their physical, emotional, social, financial, and overall well-being.

“We work to create an environment where people feel supported, valued, and encouraged to take care of themselves,” Pleau-Richardson said. “I’m especially proud that this is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing commitment to listening to our employees, responding to their needs, and continuing to strengthen the ways we support our community.”

Bates will be recognized on Sept. 16 at the LaCava Center at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., when the college will receive the “Excellence in Wellbeing” award. 

NEEBC, which was founded in 1980 to bring together the region’s employee benefits practitioners for exchange of ideas, has grown to a community supporting over 2,000 participants and 1,200 members.