A quick look at the winners.

BRONZE: RICH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Despite being one of the smallest community colleges in Arkansas, Rich Mountain Community College has a pretty large vision in regards to its employees. The college believes that it's the little things that make a difference in the lives of their employees.

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"Our policies and benefits have not only attracted but also retained employees when compared to other opportunities for employment in the area," said Judi White, director of community relations.

One thing RMCC stresses is the importance of employee health. Along with a discounted membership to the Ouachita Rehabilitation & Fitness Center, the college has appointed a committee responsible for implementing new ideas and activities that benefit the health of workers. The committee already has several initiatives underway, including cancer self-exam cards, a program for women's heart awareness, monthly e-mails about health awareness, step classes for employees and healthy snacking options at meetings.

Among the benefits for working moms and dads are a preschool/daycare that is housed on the RMCC campus and discounted tuition for employees' children who attend RMCC. And for those looking toward retirement, the college offers an early retirement program for ages 55-60 that allows employees to keep health insurance at the same premium as those working full time. RMCC also has classes and programs available year-round for its employees and their children, including Kids' College in the summer and the annual "Walk Across Polk County."

GOLD: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Knowing that employees sometimes struggle to balance work and home life, the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville eases the pressure with programs that help workers keep the juggling to a minimum.

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The university understands that parents need time to take care of family business. To support its employees, UA gives each one eight hours of educational activity leave per year so that parents can attend events, meetings or conferences at their child's school. Flex time has also been implemented to benefit parents who have a disruption in their usual schedule or who need to spend time with a young child or sick parent.

Employees can access the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building or the Pat Walker Health Center to improve their physical or emotional well-being. Cooking demonstrations that teach easy-to-make meals for healthier eating are available, as well as free health screenings throughout the year. The university also provides an employee assistance program designed to help with problems related to health, marriage, family, finances, the law, emotions, stress, alcohol or drugs.

Barbara Taylor, associate vice chancellor for human resources, said that she's proudest of the things that help employees cut costs, such as tuition discounts and insurance payments that are the same proportion for employees and their immediate family members. "[Our policies] make us more competitive both in recruiting and in retaining good faculty and staff," Taylor said.

SILVER: AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER/SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER CO.

As a large national corporation, SWEPCO's employee policies help it stand out from the pack. With a four percent turnover rate among 1,605 employees, this company is definitely doing something right to keep its employees loyal.

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After 13 months of employment, SWEPCO's full-time employees receive 80 hours of vacation plus 24 hours of personal day-off time. Also, employees are allowed to take time off to attend school related functions, such as parent-teacher conferences. And if employees want to work at the polls on Election Day, then the company gives them paid leave for the day.

Loving your furry friends is OK by SWEPCO as well. They offer veterinary pet insurance for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles and more, covering more than 6,400 medical conditions that animals might face during their lifetime, including cancer.

SWEPCO also has an impressive wellness program. The company offers up to $200 in incentives for employees who participate in a free health screening, complete an online health risk assessment, enlist the help of a health coach and complete at least two goals through the coaching program.

The company has many other benefits in its work environment. Its scholarship program for employees' dependents awards up to $7,000 per student over a four-year period each year. "The recipient and his or her family members attend a luncheon with our executives to celebrate an exciting time in their young adult life. It is fun to watch the chapter of a new beginning. Who knows? They may be an employee one day!" said Johna E. Hays, SWEPCO's human resources regional manager.

BRONZE: FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #1

Fayetteville Public School District realizes that retaining good employees, both teachers and support staff, is key to helping students achieve goals, and as a result, the district has taken steps to ensure that its policies reflect its desire to keep the best of the best.

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One impressive step that the district has taken is the addition of the Fayetteville Public Schools Fitness Center for faculty and staff and their families' use. The center features free personal training, a full gym, free fitness classes including Pilates and body sculpting, nutritional counseling, cholesterol and blood pressure checks and discounted massages.

"Not only has it helped a significant number of employees improve their physical fitness, it has provided opportunities for nutritional counseling and informal networking," said Dr. Lisa Morstad, the district's chief financial officer. "Families of employees are also invited to be members, so it also provides healthy activities for families to do together. It has been highly valued by our employees and accounts for one of the highest levels of participation in our benefits package."

But the district also focuses on how it can help its employees juggle both work and home. It provides a dry cleaning and laundry pick-up and drop-off service at each building for its employees. Another employee benefit is free financial training on topics like debt reduction and retirement investing. Counseling for first-time homebuyers is also available.

BRONZE: 3M

In large corporations, it's often easy to lose touch with the people who help it function. 3M strives to keep the lines of communication open with its employees across the country and supply all with much-needed solutions for balancing home and work.

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Employees are 3M's greatest asset, and the company tries to do what it can to make sure employees are able to balance their work life with their home life.

This national corporation offers things such as a Farmers' Market June-September, physical therapy on site and an escort services to and from your car if it's dark at its St. Paul headquarters. The company also has an urgent care clinic, back-up childcare, dry cleaning drop-off and pick-up service and a gift shop. Its nationwide programs include a maternity program, flu shots for the year, 24-hour nurse lines and walking paths.

The company also has a Lunch & Learn program that allows employees to eat lunch while watching videos or a web streams about things that might aid them in their home life, such as relationship building, stress management, health and wellness or parenting.

3M shows its employees that their children are important too. Its adoption assistance program offers employees 90 percent of adoption expenses, up to $2,500. And 3M also allows employees access to a phone consultation with a child care specialist who helps parents find child care that will meet the family's needs.

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