"Massage therapy has been promoted from the realm of "touchy-feely" to workplace ally as companies struggle to contain rising health care costs. Desperate to turn the financial tide, employers are increasingly turning to Wellness programs for solutions. Local organizations embracing this trend are finding, in accordance with two decades of market research, that investment in healthy employees pays off in a healthier bottom line.
The program at Georgetown College offers "something for everyone," with a rich menu rivaling options in the Fortune 500 stratosphere. A successful pilot experiment to reduce insurance utilization led Georgetown to hire Sim Blake as full-time wellness coordinator in 2002. Equipped with a master's degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion and the belief that wellness programs are essential in today's high-stress workplace, Blake set out to develop a model capable of reaching every employee on campus.
Prevention is the cornerstone of his vision, and early detection of major diseases is a primary goal. To this end, the college provides a range of free, on-site screenings and risk assessments, starting with a full panel of blood work plus an evaluation for high blood pressure at the annual health fair. Other routinely scheduled screenings target serious problems such as peripheral vascular disease, colon cancer, skin cancer, osteoporosis, vision and hearing. Blake spoke with particular pride of a program feature focused on chronic pain, a condition that saps employee energy and sends health care costs soaring.
"We actually bring an orthopedic surgeon on campus to meet with employees and evaluate the problem. That helps them determine the cause and access effective treatment," Blake said.
The program further encourages employees to adopt healthy lifestyles. Weight Watchers meetings are conducted onsite, while a nutritionist collaborates in the design of healthy personal meal plans. Blake brings incentives into play with lifestyle challenges such as his recent effort to have everyone drink the recommended daily allotment of water. "Employees who reach the goal get a prize, and we believe that the experience helps them develop a permanent healthy habit." Physical fitness is addressed with noon exercise classes that provide an invigorating full-body workout or a calming immersion in yoga; on-site instructors further facilitate fitness with the design of customized workouts.
In an effort to reduce stress, Georgetown offers lunchtime seminars that teach employees to cope more effectively in all life areas. Blake indicates that he pays close attention to the needs of staff and strives to include topics that will foster resilience across the work-life spectrum. And yes, the program does include the magical touch of a massage therapist, who regularly comes to the rescue of the tense and weary. Testimonials to the effectiveness of this intervention abound, and staff award it high marks.
Blake reports an outstanding employee response, with a 71 percent participation rate easily trumping the 30 percent national average. He credits the "personal touch," made possible by an intimate campus, with this outstanding achievement. "With 330 employees, I can eventually reach everyone. I'm a small town guy, and this is a great fit for me." Based on the steady stream of accolades and tangible benefits to the bottom line, Blake expresses confidence that the future of Georgetown's wellness program is assured.
Groups of walkers attired in a hybrid of business wear and tennis shoes attest to the popularity of the wellness program at Bluegrass Family Health. Carole Owen, human resources director, reports that the company now has 40 teams embarking on daily power walks with the administration's blessing. "They determine their own goals and encourage each other to try harder. We are very proud of employee response to this idea."
Following the January 2007 start-up, both employees and the organization have recognized immediate benefits: Owen notes that several employees have quit smoking via smoking cessation groups, while others are shedding pounds with the help of Weight Watchers on-site. Health risk assessments are a core component of the model, with employees receiving a yearly comprehensive personal profile; aggregate data provided to BFH identifies needed prevention programs. Owen is particularly excited about The Healthwise Handbook, now standard issue for staff. "It's an awesome resource of medical information with guidelines for almost any situation," Owen said.
BFH's nutritional overhaul has placed donuts on the endangered species list, as healthy foods replace pastry trays at meetings. Classes in nutrition encourage employees to reevaluate eating habits, and the company has eliminated junk food from vending machines. A second handbook, The Stop and Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide, offers a green-dining road map for those who continue to patronize the high-fat danger zones of eat-and-run cuisine.
Other high impact features include "lunch and learns" on topics such as migraine headaches and stress management. BFH offers employees both massage and acupuncture during the workday, and a $250 offset for gym membership provides strong incentives for physical fitness. Owen's list of wellness benefits concludes with the EAP program, which she describes as a vital force in effective employee stress management.
Both companies endorse the numerous benefits of partnering with wellness. Their successes predict a future in which these programs are vital not only to profits, but to the retention of a high-caliber workforce.
Judith Humble is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with 16 years of experience in providing mental health services, training and consultation to the business community. Judith can be reached at (859) 576-0002 or judith_humble@yahoo.com
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