March 9, 2017 – At a celebratory dinner held on March 8, The Morning Call presented Lehigh University President John Simon with its Leadership Award and the university was named a 2017 Top Workplace. With more than 1,700 combined faculty and staff, Lehigh and President Simon were both honored in the large employer category.
Described by employees responding to the survey as “approachable and transparent,” Simon has made a positive impression across campus in his first two years at the helm. One employee noted, “He gets to know his employees. … He is accessible to and trusting of his team.” Another added, “We ourselves in getting him.”
Accepting his award, Simon said, “Our employees take pride in making a difference in the lives of our students. Parents trust us with their sons and daughters, at an age when they are seeking their identities and forming their aspirations for how they will lead and contribute to society. This is a daunting responsibility. This award is a wonderful validation of the culture we have built at Lehigh to meet those expectations.”
This is the first year that Lehigh has participated in the survey. While the potential honor of being named a Top Workplace was enticing, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Chris Halladay said the information that senior officers would have access to about the satisfaction of their employees was a more powerful draw. “The questions asked on this survey produce valuable data for managers across the university,” Halladay noted.
Sixty four percent of Lehigh staff and faculty responded to the survey, a rate significantly higher than the survey’s national average. Halladay noted Lehigh employees gave great thought and care to their answers and were willing to spend time in particular on several open-ended questions. Overall, he said, employees felt positively about Lehigh’s benefits and salary structure.
Vice President of Finance and Administration Patricia Johnson believes the time is right for Lehigh to take stock of employee satisfaction and engagement. “We are thankful to our employees for making us a 2017 Top Workplace, and we are also glad to have their honest survey answers to help us improve Lehigh,” said Johnson. “Now we have a responsibility and commitment to respond to this information, because making Lehigh a great place to work and ensuring our faculty and staff are engaged will allow us to successfully realize our ambitious vision for the university’s future.”
The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including Alignment, Execution, and Connection, just to name a few. WorkplaceDynamics surveyed 70 organizations that agreed to participate.
“The Top Workplaces award is not a popularity contest. And oftentimes, people assume it’s all about fancy perks and benefits,” said Doug Claffey, chief executive officer of WorkplaceDynamics. “But to be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day—the employees. Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together. Claffey added, “Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace.”
About Lehigh University
Recognized among the nation’s premier research universities, Lehigh University offers a rigorous academic community for nearly 7,000 students and is one of the region’s largest employers. Founded in 1865 by entrepreneur, industrial pioneer and philanthropist Asa Packer in Bethlehem, Pa., the university employs over 1,700 faculty and staff. The university has four colleges: the College of Business and Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, and College of Education.
About WorkplaceDynamics, LLC
Headquartered in Exton, Pa., WorkplaceDynamics specializes in employee feedback surveys and workplace improvement. This year alone, more than two million employees in over 6,000 organizations will participate in the Top Workplaces™ campaign—a program it conducts in partnership with more than 40 prestigious media partners across the United States. WorkplaceDynamics also provides consulting services to improve employee engagement and organizational health. WorkplaceDynamics is a founding B Corporation member, a coalition of organizations that are leading a global movement to redefine success in business by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.
Information Provided By:
Amy White
