From the editor's desk

“In time of test, family is best,” says an old Burmese proverb.

As any employer in Yuma County can tell you, 2011 was another year of trial on the economic front.

So it should be no surprise that 23 businesses and organizations in Yuma County selected as finalists for the Workplace Excellence Awards for 2011 have been described by their employees as families.

The word “family” was used over and over by employees who nominated their respective workplaces for the honors. “Team” was another word they used to describe their employers and co-workers in their nomination forms.

As the economy continued to struggle in 2011, these WPE finalists do what families and teams do: support one another through tough times.

The Workplace Excellence Awards are presented annually by the Yuma Sun and the Southwest Arizona Human Resources Association to honor employers around Yuma County who give outstanding customer service while creating an environment where employees are happy and productive.

It's one thing to strike that balance when times are good. It can be quite a bit tougher in times when profits are down, costs are up and employers and employees are required to do more with less.

So given the shaky economy, being nominated for Workplace Excellence Awards should have special meaning for area employers.

We congratulate all nominees and winners of Workplace Excellence Award for demonstrating that successful employers are those who take care of their most valuable assets, their associates.

We hope the economy improves in the months ahead.

But even if recovery lies farther down the road, employers can take comfort in knowing they created work environments where everyone pulls together like a family and a team.