PHUKET: Two Phuket resorts and four well-known retailers have earned national awards for their progressive policies towards involving employees in workplace communications.

The SALA Phuket Resort and Spa and the Mercure Patong Phuket joined Tesco, Big C, Central and Robinson in the awards that came in September from the department of Labor Protection and Welfare.

The Director of Phuket's Labor Protection and Welfare Department, Kittipong Laonipon, said the rewards were well-deserved.

''It's a recogition of good workplace values,'' he told Phuketwan. ''It means these workplaces do encourage loyalty, although other factors also come into consideration when staff decide whether to stay in a job.''

The awards encompass workplace relationships and note that award winners have the kind of structure where staff are able to talk directly to senior managers, where no staff have connections to drugs or crime, and where welfare payments are met.

SALA Phuket enthused in a media release that SALA staff ''demonstrated their ability to work effectively with management in the creation and implementation of policies to advance employee welfare.''

''These policies involved skills training in areas such as fire prevention and fire-fighting, English language, workplace organisation methodology as well as creation of a pleasant working environment for employees.''