Wellness in the workplace
Fit employees can equal increased productivity
LEWISBURG — Employers, would you like to increase productivity at work? — Make your employees sweat.
No, this doesn’t mean making threats, circulating rumor about layoffs or mandating Saturday morning shifts, but instead help and encourage your hard-working people to take better care of themselves.
Living a healthy lifestyle is important, and to be successful, it must be practiced often. The work environment doesn’t need to be anti-beneficial, either, thanks to an Evangelical Community Hospital program that focuses on worksite wellness.
“Daily Choices,” as it’s called, is geared for companies, and covers a wide range of issues, including proper nutrition, fitness and healthy weight loss.
“This doesn’t exclude anybody,” said Deborah L. Shaffer, community health educator, and certified wellness program manager. “Everyone needs to live well.”
Living well certainly affects every part of one’s life, but specifically on the job it can decrease absenteeism, boost productivity and increase morale. Several of the programs offered also deal with teamwork, which can improve working relationships.
T-Ross Brothers Construction Inc., Montandon, is one company that has embraced the daily choices it makes. Since around the beginning of this year, it has involved itself in a number of activities, starting with a health fair, where 55 employees, or 70 percent, participated. From there, a dedicated portion got down to business.
With a concept like the hit reality television show “The Biggest Loser,” T-Ross took part in Worksite Biggest Loser, starting in February and ending in May.
A total of 141 pounds was dropped, a 5 percent body weight average, by the “losers.” Of course, not everyone needs to lose weight, so those who didn’t instead made it a point to exercise regularly.
Yvette Hummel, executive assistant, and chair of the business’ wellness committee, said people walked, ran, biked, weight trained and ate better to be successful. They did this during lunch or at the end of work. T-Ross has a small gym in its building and even showers. The word now is that a walking trail may go in around the property.
Janet Drumm, an administrative assistant, found it great to see people change their eating habits.
“The chips got stale,” Hummel said.
“We use to get fruit flies,” added co-owner Todd Ross.
“This was neat,” he also said of the experience. “There was camaraderie and a goal. It was a competition and fun.”
Since that time, T-Ross has been involved in Vacation Destination, where company members logged miles to “walk” to a destination. Shaffer said the firm decided on Miami, Fla.
Later this year, just before Thanksgiving, folks will weigh in for the Maintain Campaign. The goal is to not gain anymore than three pounds from then until after New Year’s Day. Because of all the goodies, stress, busy times, and even cold weather, the average weight gain for someone who doesn’t maintain is between five and 10 pounds, according to the health educator.
Since 2006, some 40 companies in the region, anywhere up to around an hour drive from Evangelical, in Lewisburg, have participated in one or more of the Daily Choices programs.
“It’s been very successful, but it’s not measured by the number of the companies,” Shaffer said.
Instead, it’s hearing from someone who says “You saved my life,” it’s “One leaf at a time.
“We want employees to be responsible for their health, and we want to help them to learn how to do it.”
Daily Choices is brought to the workplace, and starts with a conversation and survey about worksite wellness. If there isn’t a wellness committee at work, trainers will help to organize one. Surveys are usually an “eye-opener” because of what, surprisingly, people don’t know about their own health, but “That’s what we’re here for,” Shaffer said.
Program areas include: wellness screens (cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, body fat analysis), vaccinations (influenza, pneumonia, tetanus), physical activity, weight management and nutrition, and an education series called Lunch & Learn, including topics like physical activity, weight management, stress management, nutrition, safety and family health. There is also health safety programs on hand washing, and first-aid and CPR classes are available.
Fees can be paid for by companies, a cost share between employers and employees, or just by employees. Some insurance plans include wellness benefits.
For more information, contact Deborah Shaffer at 522-4151 or e-mail dshaffer6@evanhospital.com.
Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
