Workplace Excellence Seal Of Approval Goes To Verizon Wireless For Fifth Consecutive Year

LAUREL, MD — Verizon Wireless has received double honors from the Alliance for Workplace Excellence, a nonprofit group dedicated to building and recognizing outstanding workplaces. For the fifth consecutive year, the Alliance presented 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 again as a 2007 Health & Wellness Trailblazer, an award initiated last year to honor employers demonstrating exemplary commitment to the overall physical and mental health of their workforce.

"We applaud Verizon Wireless for its commitment to establishing a workplace culture that allows today's workforce to achieve success at work, at home and in the community," said Evelyn Steward, founder and CEO, Alliance for Workplace Excellence.

Verizon Wireless has been recognized frequently for its programs addressing the work/life needs of employees. Nationally, the company has been named one of Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for six years in a row, and Health Magazine has named the company one of 10 U.S. employers to best help women balance their professional and personal responsibilities.

Verizon Wireless regional president Tami Erwin, a marathon runner and mother of two teenagers said, "Verizon Wireless is proud to receive these honors for our workplace and our culture. We put a premium on maintaining an excellent working environment and on our employees' health and well being. It makes a big difference in how well we're able to support our customers."

Verizon Wireless' Laurel, MD regional headquarters, its Hanover facility, and many of the company's nationwide workplaces have fitness centers employing one or more coaches who promote employee fitness. 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.

Locally, the company has been recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore Magazine and Washingtonian Magazine as one of the best regional workplaces.

For the sixth consecutive year, Verizon Wireless was named to Training magazine's list of "Top 125 Training Organizations in America." This year, Verizon Wireless was the highest ranked wireless company on the list, placing # 4. This annual list ranks companies based on qualitative and quantitative criteria, including strategic goals, targeted programs, and performance appraisals.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 60.7 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 66,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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
Headquartered in Montgomery County, Md., the Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to positioning workplace excellence as a competitive advantage in the public, private and nonprofit business community by building and recognizing outstanding workplaces. Through the implementation of workplace excellence strategies such as health and wellness programs, flexible work programs, family friendly initiatives, social responsibility, and growth and learning services, employers create healthy work environments that result in personal and organizational effectiveness.

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