Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval Awarded to Verizon Wireless for Eighth Consecutive Year

LAUREL, Md., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless has received double honors from the Alliance for Workplace Excellence, a nonprofit group dedicated to building and recognizing outstanding workplaces.  For the eighth consecutive year, the Alliance will present Verizon Wireless with its Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval, which recognizes visionary employers that view workplace excellence as a strategic business imperative.    

The company was also named a Health & Wellness Trailblazer, a distinction presented to companies that promote professional fulfillment and personal wellness -- at work, at home, and in the community.  Rounding out the honors, Verizon Communications, the parent company of Verizon Wireless, was bestowed with the EcoLeadership award, given to companies that have done an outstanding job greening their workplaces.  Applicants are evaluated according to several environmental best practices including waste minimization, water conservation and energy efficiency.

According to the Alliance, winning employers are selected after a comprehensive evaluation process by an independent review panel of professors, Ph. D. students of business, and industrial and organizational psychology and human resources professionals.

"We applaud Verizon Wireless and Verizon Communications for creating a sustained culture of environmental leadership, workplace excellence and workforce health," said Judy Shober, President of the Alliance for Workplace Excellence. "Companies that achieve Workplace Excellence enjoy loyal and healthy workforces, valuable community relationships and reduced use of natural resources."

Verizon Wireless Regional President Mike Maiorana said, "We're very proud that the Alliance has honored Verizon Wireless for eight consecutive years.  We've worked hard to create a healthy, environmentally friendly workplace for our employees, and we're grateful that our efforts are being recognized."

Verizon Wireless' Laurel, MD regional headquarters, its Hanover facility, and many of the company's nationwide workplaces have fitness centers employing one or more fitness coaches who promote employee health and wellness.  The centers offer personal training, nutrition seminars, and a range of exercise classes including Pilates for Pregnancy, a class exclusively for expectant mothers.  In addition, moms-to-be can participate in online physician seminars throughout their pregnancies and take advantage of on-site lactation rooms after their babies are born.

Nationally, Verizon Wireless has received many prestigious awards including being named among IDG's Computerworld annual Best Places to Work in IT list; BusinessWeek's Best Company To Launch A Career list; LATINA Style's list of the 50 Best Companies for Latinas to work for in the U.S.; Black Enterprise magazine's list of 40 Best Companies for Diversity; and the National Association of Female Executive's list of Top 50 Companies for Executive Women.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with  81,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About The Alliance for Workplace Excellence

The Alliance for Workplace Excellence, (AWE), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by

Montgomery County, Maryland and Discovery Communication, LLC.  

SOURCE Verizon Wireless