Date:  Thursday, May 13, 2010

Contact: Lloyd Brown, WSDOT, 360-705-7076
Jennifer Reynolds, Department of Personnel, 360-664-6222

OLYMPIA – The National Association of State Personnel Executives announced winners of the 2010 NASPE Awards Program recently. Two of five national awards went to Washington State agencies: Washington State Department of Personnel (DOP) and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The awards recognize great accomplishment by state government human resource management professionals.

WSDOT was named the 2010 Rooney Outstanding Program award winner for its Return to Work program, which creates a holistic approach to managing workplace injury claims. Created in 2009, the program has already achieved results by returning employees to work more quickly and saving more than $1.5 million in its first year alone.

“WSDOT’s Return to Work program has created a great situation for everyone – it gives our injured employees the assistance they need to come back to work as soon as possible, and it helps reduce WSDOT’s insurance premiums,” said Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond. “We’re honored to receive this national recognition.”

DOP was given the 2010 Communications Awards in the Print Category for its State Workforce Report. The publication turns state workforce data into useful information for law-makers, the media, and the public. The report highlights key workforce issues and trends that impact public policy. Because it’s available in a printable format on DOP’s website, the publication can be downloaded at no cost to taxpayers.

“The Workforce Report is a valuable tool for decision-makers and taxpayers,” said Eva Santos, director of DOP. “It serves as an easily accessible reference for questions about state workers – who they are, where they work, how much they are paid and how they feel about their work. We’re very proud to receive this award from NASPE.”

NASPE is a national leadership forum representing directors and deputy directors of each state’s central human resource management agency. The organization was established in 1976 to exchange best practices, strategies, and solutions among state government HR professionals and is the recognized authority on state government human resource management issues.

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