NewsVGM Group Celebrates Its Expanding Family

A record number of new additions for VGM employees is cause for a celebration.

One of the Cedar Valley’s largest employers, VGM Group, has been expanding since 1986 when Van Miller founded the company as a group purchasing organization for home medical equipment providers.

Now with more than 1000 employees (the majority of which reside in the Cedar Valley), 2019 is bringing an expansion to VGM employees’ families. A record number of VGM employees are expecting or have recently added to their family with the birth of a new baby or through adoption.

Over the past 12 months, 55 VGM employees have celebrated an addition to their family through birth or adoption, with another six employees expecting to do the same by the end of the year. And the Waterloo-based company is celebrating right along with them. On November 4, the company held a late afternoon event for parents and parents-to-be with refreshments, snacks and take-and-bake meals for the new and expecting families.

Sara Laures, Senior Vice President of People and Strategy, says the idea for the celebration came up during discussions around the company’s recent Top Workplaces award and employees’ comments about the family-friendly atmosphere at VGM.

“As employee owners, we consider our co-workers our family,” said Laures. “With our benefits and workplace culture, we truly strive to be a family-friendly employer, so recognizing this unique milestone is a neat way to celebrate it.”

VGM recently updated its employee benefits to include employees going through the adoption or surrogacy process. Qualifying employees are eligible to receive reimbursement toward expenses related to the adoption or surrogate process.

In addition to paid maternity leave following birth or adoption, paid paternity leave is also available. Flexible work schedules and work-at-home positions also help parents adjust and balance work and home life, and access to a free health clinic in Waterloo are additional perks that benefit working parents.

“We’re excited for our inaugural Baby Boom event and hope it becomes a tradition,” said Laures. “There’s nothing better than celebrating alongside our VGM family.”

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