The Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE) presented EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) and their subsidiary Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) four awards for workplace excellence.

The 2019 accolades include awards for overall Workplace Excellence, Health & Wellness, EcoLeadership and Diversity. Remarkably, Hughes has earned recognition as an outstanding workplace every year since the awards were established in 1999.

In 2019, EchoStar and Hughes introduced several new initiatives to improve health and wellness as well as environmental sustainability. These include more options of healthy food in the workplace and an extensive selection of fitness and health classes for employees. A new “Green Committee” develops hands-on environmental programs and supports an employee eco-volunteerism effort at the company, which is certified as a “Green Business” by Montgomery County, Maryland. The award-winning workplace also includes an on-site health clinic and opportunities for educational advancement and leadership development.

Hughes is one of only eight businesses to receive the 2019 AWE Diversity Champion award, which recognizes companies committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Programming in this area at Hughes and EchoStar includes cultural enrichment events, partnerships with local organizations like the Society of Women Engineers and Society of Black Engineers, as well as comprehensive hiring programs for veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Founded in 1999, The Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping companies become great places to work through offering competitive advantages in attracting and retaining top talent, generating community support and making efficient use of resources.

For consideration by the AWE, Hughes and EchoStar participated in a rigorous assessment process led by an independent review panel of business professionals and master’s degree and/or Ph.D. students in the fields of business, industrial and organizational psychology, human resources, environmental science, public health and diversity and inclusion.

Pradman Kaul, the President of Hughes, said the company knows that employee satisfaction directly translates to successful and long-lasting relationships with customers and partners. The continued recognition from AWE reflects the value the firm places on cultivating an excellent workplace where team members can excel and thrive.