News Release: October 20, 2003
Contact: Steve Wilson, ext. 245The New Jersey Business & Industry Association will present Meridan Health of Neptune with its Outstanding Employer Award during the 2003 Awards for Excellence Dinner on October 21 at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village.
The Outstanding Employer Award is presented annually to companies that have demonstrated a creative and forward-looking approach to meeting the needs of their employees and managing their human resources. Meridian is being honored for its Total Rewards Partnership Program.
"In the competitive field of healthcare, attracting and keeping the best employees is crucial," NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said. "Meridian Health has made itself the employer of choice in the Monmouth-Ocean area by maintaining top salaries and first-rate benefits for its 7,500 employees. NJBIA is proud to salute Meridian Health."
The Total Rewards Partnership Program begins with a competitive salary. Meridian annually benchmarks its pay scales against a variety of market indicators to make sure that its pay is at the forefront of the healthcare industry in all job categories. Employees are also motivated by a pay-for-performance program that provides merit-based pay increases.
The company benefits program lets employees choose from among five healthcare and prescription plans, three dental plans, and one vision care plan. Flexible spending accounts for employees and dependents are also available. All employees are enrolled in a cash balance pension program and are eligible for a tax-sheltered annuity program similar to a 401k, with Meridian providing a generous matching contribution.
Meridian supplements these monetary incentives with on-site dry cleaners, day care, massage therapy, a fitness center and other timesaving amenities, as well as an extensive learning development program.
To help employees in times of need, Meridian maintains a "When in Need Fund" to provide emergency financial support, a "Leave Bank Program" for extended paid time off under certain conditions, and a "Carebridge" counseling resource.
Since 1984, NJBIA annually has honored a select group of its members with an Award for Excellence. The Awards for Excellence winners demonstrate outstanding achievements in one of three award categories: Environmental Quality, Outstanding Employer, and Enterprise. A Public Service award is also presented to one or more individual business professionals. All NJBIA member companies are eligible to be nominated.
An independent panel of judges comprised of members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) selected the winners along with three NJBIA policy committee chairs: JoAnn Trezza, Human Resources Committee; Edward Hogan, Environmental Quality Committee; and Tim Carden, Economic Development Council.
WithumSmith+Brown, the New Jersey-based accounting and consulting firm, verified the information supplied by the winning applicants.
With more than 20,000 member companies, NJBIA is one of the nation's largest state-level employer associations.
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