Department of Workforce Development

Contact: Tony Jewell (608) 266-9806

GOVERNOR PRESENTS NOVEMBER WIN AWARD

MADISON—Gov. Tommy G. Thompson today announced that D&S Dental Laboratory of Waunakee, Wisconsin was awarded November’s Governor’s Workforce Innovation Award (WIN), which recognizes individuals and organizations that create innovative approaches and outside-of-the-box solutions to develop and sustain Wisconsin’s workforce.

"In today’s tight labor market, competition for high quality employees is fierce," Gov. Thompson said. "D&S Dental Laboratory succeededs in this area by making it a priority to provide a family friendly work place."

The company recognized the lack of affordable, quality child care as an impediment to many people entering the workforce. Removing those barriers, they realized, could help them attract new workers into the workforce and to their company. D&S Dental Lab received employer sponsored child care start-up and expansion grants through DWD's Office of Child Care to help them get started. Not only has the company’s child care center been featured in the industry’s national publication Lab Management Today, but they were recently named as the Best In Business in Dane County—an employee nominated award.

D&S Dental Lab has created an environment that supports family interactions as well as high employee productivity. Employees are able to visit their children at any point of the work day just by traveling to another part of the building. Parents are able to eat with their children, read them a book or play with them while taking a break, or comfort them when needed because they are only a few steps away.

Company officials believe that the addition of the child care services have dramatically increased employee productivity because workers are confident their children are well cared for while they are at work. The child care center has considerably affected their recruiting ability, which is evidenced by the 42 applicants they had for their last position opening. The quality of the child care services are drawing people to work there. In fact, the company says people have toured the site and, upon learning it is only open to D&S employees, they began actively pursuing employment with D&S to get their child (children) into the center.

The WIN award is presented each month to highlight innovative approaches and solutions to overcoming barriers to work, empowering individuals to move up the job ladder, and partnering with employers, educators and local government to do what works to build a stronger workforce.

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