Accolades

State Hospice Honors Go to Columbus Women
COLUMBUS -- A social worker who assisted in creating a local advanced care directive and a volunteer who has given of her time to help those facing end of life issues have been honored for their contributions. Lisa Weber-Kohler and Lucy Wacha, both of Columbus, were recognized by the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership at its annual banquet on April 2. Read the complete story in the Columbus Telegram here: http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2008/04/08/news/local/doc47fb9c972b0a4781208893.txt

Henderson Healthcare Recognized for Compassion to Employees
Henderson, Nebraska
OAK BROOK, Ill., March 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- Ninety five employers, representing 38 states plus Washington D. C., are being recognized by The Compassionate Friends for showing extra sensitivity to bereaved employees following the death of a child. The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is the nation's largest self-help bereavement organization with 600 chapters serving all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Nominated by the persons they have directly helped, these employers are receiving Compassionate Employer Recognition in 2008 for going above and beyond the normal policies of most companies in helping their employees when the death of a child occurred.

Criteria for Compassionate Employer Recognition include, but are not limited to:

1. Allowing additional time off without loss of benefits.
2. Allowing flexible work schedules and assignments.
3. Allowing leeway in job performance standards.
4. Fostering an environment of mutual support among coworkers.
5. Providing professional grief counseling, human resources support, or information regarding self-help bereavement organizations.
6. Other policies and practices that go beyond what is normal in the community.

This is the eighth year for recognition of employers, with recipients jumping from three the first year, to the current 95 for 2008. Employers being recognized range from small companies with as few as four employees to large companies with as many as 10,000.