Purpose

The counseling center recognizes the connections of ethical behavior to the physical, psychological and spiritual health of the community, as explored in the story of the good Samaritan. The center affirms the influence of employment practices, business conduct and workplace conditions on mental health. In sponsoring these awards, the center intends to promote ethical practices in our communities, in the hope that local businesses, agencies and individuals will aspire to be considered for the awards. The awards will also serve as a way for the center to raise its public profile and to raise money for the center’s operation.

Awards

Nominations are being sought for awards in the following three categories:

• small business;
• medium business;
• large business.

All nominees must be located in the counseling center’s service area (Warren, Washington, Essex and Saratoga counties).

Nominees should demonstrate ethical conduct, integrity and civic responsibility in their dealings within and without their organizations. Nominators may be employees of the nominated business. Nominators should check with nominees to make sure they are amenable to being nominated.

Criteria

Criteria for awards include core values such as integrity, fairness, honesty, community involvement and public service.
Businesses can be honored for their defined programs or efforts directed toward an important social need. They can also be honored for conducting business in a fashion that contributes to social welfare above and beyond what would be expected or required.

The Samaritan Center recognizes business ethics is a broad category that can include many behaviors. The center encourages nominations of businesses of all sorts and for all sorts of reasons.

The following criteria, while not exhaustive, are examples of traits that will be considered when making the awards:

• engagement of employees in volunteerism and community service
• breadth and depth of support for charitable and philanthropic causes
• emphasis on employee health and safety
• promotion of diversity
• history and reputation for ethical business practices
• tone at the top of the organization that reinforces the importance of ethics
• a business culture that supports compliance with laws and regulations
• strong ethics and conflict of interest policies and codes of conduct
• explicit set of core values that guide behavior
• effective risk management practices
• effective strategies to detect and prevent misconduct
• ethically responsive behavior when organizational mistakes have been discovered

Event

Nominees, finalists and award winners will be honored at a banquet in the spring of 2012. Nominees not selected will be carried forward as eligible for the following year’s awards.

Contact

Please contact the Adirondack Samaritan Counseling Center at 747-2994  with questions or to request a printed version of the nomination form.

Nominate a business today via our online form.