Associated Credit Union promotes employee well-being by creating two new private spaces
ATLANTA, GA (April 13, 2023) — Associated Credit Union creates a Meditation Room and Mother’s Room for its employees. As more companies are transitioning back to the office these in-office benefits add a more comfortable and mental health-aware experience for their employees.
Lin Hodges, Associated Credit Union President/ CEO stated, “At ACU, we believe in the power of family and understand that supporting parents’ needs helps our employees and community foster a healthy and vibrant work environment.
Today it is our honor and privilege to provide two new dedicated spaces for our employees: a mother’s room and a meditation room. It is our hope that new mothers will feel the love that went into the planning and design of this space and that they will see ACU’s commitment to their family’s well-being.
Additionally, the meditation room is an opportunity for ACU to provide an area for reflection, quiet time, or prayer. In today’s tumultuous and ever-changing world, we thought this new space could offer some tranquility and mental comfort.”
There was an immense need for a Mother’s Room, with 20 female employees giving birth within the past three years. The Meditation or “Zen Den” was initially created to be a space where employees could come to pray throughout the workday. The space has since evolved to provide a place of solitude for employees that just need a quiet place to gather their thoughts or decompress.
Extraordinary attention went into ensuring that the space in each room would generate a feeling of harmony. Every detail mattered, from installing light-dimming options to help create the right ambiance to selecting calming paint colors to help the employee relax and recharge. These added private spaces are an innovative and modernized way to prioritize employee health.
Naimah N., Associated Credit Union Contact Center Representative commented, “I am so excited and grateful that Associated Credit Union would think enough of its employees to build this space. I will be using the Zen Den to pray and love that I have a safe and private place to do so.”
Constructing two new wellness rooms is consistent with Associated Credit Union’s employee-focused philosophy, created to help employees reach their healthiest potential. Within the financial industry, this is a cutting-edge addition to employee accommodations, setting the tone for other credit unions and companies within the financial industry to provide spaces where their employees can thrive.
“I am excited to be here on behalf of the League of Southeastern Credit Union. This is a great opportunity to show other credit unions how you can add valuable resources for your staff and create a good space for their mental wellness and health,” said Bobbi Grady, Foundation Director for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates.
Associated Credit Union held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially reveal these spaces to its employees. Excited guests toured the Meditation and Mother’s rooms while learning about the passion and purpose behind the six-month project, meticulously built to nurture Associated Credit Union’s strong wellness culture. In attendance from Associated Credit Union’s leadership team were Heiwote Tadesse, Executive Vice President of Member Relations; Mark Waller, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President; Tim Bridges, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President; Karen Pennington, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources. Also, in attendance were Bobbi Grady, League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates Foundation Director; Maureen Bock, League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates Vice President of Education & Training; and other Associated Credit Union employees.
Pictured (from left to right) at the internal ribbon-cutting ceremony were Tim Bridges, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President; Mark Waller, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President; Naimah N., Contact Center Representative; Heiwote Tadesse, Associated Credit Union EVP of Member Relations; Karen Pennington, Associated Credit Union AVP of Human Resources; and Bobbi Grady, Foundation Director for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates.
About Associated Credit Union
Associated Credit Union, a $2 billion financial institution that serves more than 156,000 members at 18 locations in Atlanta, Augusta, Carrollton, and Dawsonville, offers members financial products that fulfill their needs, service that exceeds their expectations, and relationships that inspire their trust. The Associated Credit Union Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides fundraising and volunteer opportunities for employees and members to support charitable organizations. For more information about Associated Credit Union, visit acuonline.org or like and follow @AssociatedCU on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
