We have a strong focus on health and wellness within our company. We believe there is a strong connection between health and wellness and safety and productivity. The AEP Wellness … Energy for Life program, initiated in late 2007, provides employees and their families with access to health-related education, tools and programs that promote good health, well-being and productivity. The program promotes the adoption of healthy habits and choices, which lower the risk of developing chronic health conditions.

More than 56 percent of eligible employees and their spouses or domestic partners completed company-sponsored health assessment questionnaires during 2007 and 2008. The results showed the top five highest risk factors for AEP employees are: lack of physical activity (48 percent), poor nutrition (43 percent), obesity (39 percent), high cholesterol (33 percent) and tobacco use (19 percent).

Employee participation in health screenings increased 39 percent from 2007 to 2008. Some of these tests led to life-saving discoveries for employees and their families. Our plans include developing actions to address some of the health issues that have been identified.

AEP is proud to offer employees 32 work/life programs, including flexible work schedules, parental leave, alternative family benefits and backup daycare. Our employees have asked us to better publicize these programs so they can take advantage of them.

We received the 2008 Dave Thomas Award for Adoption-Friendly Policies and consistently have been named to Working Mother magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. We also have been recognized as a Top Military-Friendly Employer by GI Jobs magazine for six consecutive years and were named Veteran Employer of the Year by the Buckeye State Council in Ohio for our military-friendly hiring practices and training programs.