PBN Healthiest Employers Awards 2022
15-499 EMPLOYEES
5. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island
CEO (or equivalent): Katje Afonseca
Number of employees: 33
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of Rhode Island, a Providence-based mentorship program that pairs boys and girls across the state with adult role models, has added to its slate of health initiatives for employees during the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CEO Katje Afonseca said that in addition to 100% employer-paid health premiums, a wellness committee made up of employees helps to run several programs to keep employee spirits up. Among them are ice cream socials and a walking club.
“We were pretty well set up for mental health before the pandemic,” she said. Afonseca also said the organization set up a hybrid work schedule in the meantime.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has also had a high employee retention rate of roughly 83% during the pandemic. Even though the government provided assistance during the pandemic, many employees left government benefits and opted to return to work at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
A Healthy Thought: ‘We know that when people can live in a healthy and happy way outside work, they will do great work when they come to work.’
KATJE AFONSECA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island CEO
