With June’s fourth annual National Employee Wellness Month kicking off on 6/1, organizations across the country are rallying in support of prevention and good health.  More than 130 leading organizations have pledged their support so far.

Now in its fourth year, National Employee Wellness Month showcases how prevention, coupled with supportive social communities like the workplace, helps to improve employee health and productivity, lower healthcare costs and create a workplace culture of health. This annual initiative helps employers learn from best practices of how companies are developing successful strategies around prevention and good health.

Forward-thinking employers know helping employees make healthy lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on curbing the rising cost of preventable and highly manageable chronic diseases.  Throughout June, participating organizations will promote the benefits of healthy lifestyles, and provide motivation and opportunities for employees to engage in a range of healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Wondering how you can mark the occasion – and, more importantly, promote a culture of health in your workplace? It’s easier than you think.

Here are 5 simple ways to promote healthy habits in your workplace this June and all year round:

1. Hide the candy bowls (or replace them with fresh fruit or veggies).

   We all know how incredibly tempting office candy bowls can be – and just a few candies daily can really add up. Offer a bowl of fresh fruit or other healthy snacks instead.

2. Have you refilled the office water coolers?

   Good health includes drinking lots of water – 8 glasses a day, to be precise. While we absorb some of that water through the foods we eat, it’s important to make a conscious effort to stay hydrated.

   Make it easy for your employees to get in the habit. Place water coolers in convenient locations around the office and fill them regularly. (Or you can invest in a filtering-water pitchers in the office fridge. Or even filtering-water coolers in kitchens and break areas to cut down on the plastic bottles.)

3. Encourage teams to “walk and meet”.

   The season of nice weather’s upon us – so why not take some meetings outdoors? Encourage your employees to “walk and meet” simultaneously at least once daily. It’ll get their blood pumping (and maybe help the creative juices flow, too).

4. Sponsor a healthy recipe swap in your workplace.
   Cooking at home cuts down on your restaurant bills and promotes a healthier way of eating. But many of us could use some fresh inspiration. Invite your employees to share their favorite healthy recipes with their peers.  Say 30 people participate, everyone gets 29 new recipes to try for themselves – that’s a whole month of healthy eats! 
5. Nudge healthier options for the takeout-lunch crowd.

   Many officemates order lunch as a group, relying on the same old stack of (usually unhealthy) menu options. Distribute healthier menu options to all teams; if you can swing it, arrange for an employee discount from local cafes offering healthier options.

   If your company has its own cafeteria, make sure there are healthy options offered daily and that your prices accurately reflect the choices you’re trying to promote.

Stay tuned for more tips and ideas on how you and your workforce can celebrate National Employee Wellness Month. We’re eager to hear your favorite tips, too. Watch this space for more crowd-sourced tips to kick off National Employee Wellness Month right. And follow #WellnessMonth on Twitter for the latest news and tips.

Virgin HealthMiles, STOP Obesity Alliance, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and WorldatWork Invite Corporate America to Join Month-Long Initiative and Share the Health

Out-of-control healthcare costs and an unhealthy workforce put an unsustainable strain on business productivity and profitability. And employees feel it, too, paying more out of their pockets for higher premiums.  The good news?  We can actually do something about it.  Seventy-five percent of healthcare costs today are driven by often preventable and highly manageable chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.  Today, Virgin HealthMiles, the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and WorldatWork announced the fourth annual National Employee Wellness Month, which will take place this June.

Closing the gap between a business’ desire for a culture of good health and actually achieving one is essential to making a sustainable impact on workforce health and business performance.  A recent Buck Consultants’ survey found only 10 percent of U.S. respondents felt they’d fully achieved a culture of health in their organizations, while 85 percent intend to pursue one.

National Employee Wellness Month is an annual initiative that provides business leaders with fresh ideas and proven strategies around prevention and wellness.  It offers a hands-on look at how supportive social communities, like the workplace, can help to improve employee health and productivity, lower healthcare costs, and help organizations create a positive culture of health. A WorldatWork study found that 38 percent of employers have seen desired changes in employee behavior as a result of their organizations’ efforts to involve employees in health and wellness programs.

Through a collective rallying call, the initiative’s four sponsors invite corporate America to participate in this month-long workplace wellness campaign to help showcase the power of prevention and social connections in creating and fostering a healthy workplace.  U.S.-based companies and organizations can participate in this year’s National Employee Wellness Month by becoming a Proud Supporter of the initiative.  Throughout June, participating companies will promote the benefits of healthy lifestyles, and provide motivation and opportunities for employees to increase their daily physical activity and engage in other healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Learn more about how to become a Proud Supporter of National Employee Wellness Month at http://www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com/proud-supporters. More information and resources about workplace wellness and National Employee Wellness Month can be found at: www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com.

Power of Challenges and Social Communities Motivate Employees to Walk More than Seven Billion Steps in Three Weeks; Teams from MWV and Fyda Freightliner Take Top Spots in Activity Challenge

This June, over 40,000 U.S. employees demonstrated the power of challenges and social connections in creating healthier, more active workplaces.  As part of the third annual National Employee Wellness Month Challenge, teams from more than 90 U.S. companies logged more than seven billion steps – the equivalent of summiting Mount Everest 674,607 times – in their quest to top the 2011 challenge leaderboards. In the end, Virginia-based global packaging leader MWV finished first in the “Health Stars” division, averaging nearly 225,000 steps per participant throughout the challenge. And for the third consecutive year, Ohio and Pennsylvania-based Freightliner dealership, Fyda Freightliner, rose to the top, averaging nearly 292,000 daily steps in the “Wellness Warriors” division.  In recognition of these first place finishes, MWV and Fyda Freightliner will each receive a $1,000 donation from Virgin HealthMiles to the charity of their choice.  

National Employee Wellness Month was created by Virgin HealthMiles with support from the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. The initiative helps business leaders learn how companies have developed successful strategies around prevention and good health.  It showcases how supportive social communities, such as the workplace, can help to improve employee health and productivity and lower healthcare costs, and how leveraging an individual’s social connections helps create and sustain a workplace culture of health.

“Fewer than 20 percent of today’s jobs involve moderate physical activity.  As we’ve become more sedentary, there’s been a huge spike in costly chronic conditions which drive the majority of healthcare costs impacting businesses and their employees today,” said Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles.  “Theses 40,000 employees literally ‘stepped it up’ in celebration of this year’s National Employee Wellness Month. They proved that some healthy competition and supportive social connections are a powerful combination in creating a healthier, more active workforce. Congratulations to the MWV and Fyda Freightliner teams on their first place finishes in this year’s challenge.”

All together, the more than 40,000 participants took over seven billion steps and walked the equivalent of approximately four million miles during the three-week challenge.  On average, participants took approximately 8,400 steps per day – an amount that reinforces the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for daily physical activity. 

About the Winners
MWV finished first in the Health Stars division thanks to its team averaging more than 10,500 steps, or approximately 5.25 miles per participant per day throughout the three-week competition. 

“We’re excited about our challenge win and we’re proud to support National Employee Wellness Month’s goal of promoting prevention and good health,” said Jodi Fuller, director of global benefits at MWV.  “We’ve seen firsthand the value of social connections in driving healthy behaviors across our workforce.  It’s truly inspiring to see our employees motivate each other to stay active since a healthier workforce not only lowers healthcare costs, but keeps people well and productive on the job.” 

Three-time champion, Fyda Freightliner stepped their way to the top of the Wellness Warriors division by averaging more than 13,000 steps, or approximately 6.5 miles per participant per day.

“We’re thrilled to be at the top of the National Employee Wellness Month Challenge leaderboard for the third year running,” said Patty DePaola, controller of Fyda Freightliner.  “Taking a preventive approach to healthcare by staying active is an ingrained part of our corporate culture.  Our continued success in this year’s challenge represents Fyda Freightliner’s ongoing commitment to becoming a healthier workforce.”

To see the top ten teams in each division of the 2011 National Employee Wellness Month Challenge, visit: http://www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com/the-challenge/.

As part of our celebration of June’s third annual National Employee Wellness Month, Virgin HealthMiles presented our first annual “Healthies” awards. The Healthies recognize individuals who have demonstrated overall excellence in improving their health, and celebrate the spirit of healthy behavior change taking place across the nation.

Based on personal story submissions, we awarded ten individuals with Healthies. Today, we’ve highlighted three of this year’s recipients. 

Monique D. uses the HealthMiles program for motivation to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

“It all started with one little pedometer… Before joining Virgin HealthMiles in 2008, I weighed 250 pounds. I hated being obese, I was ashamed at how much space I took up in the world. I joined the program for some motivation to start exercising, and after about a month, I made a commitment to adopt a healthy lifestyle. I changed my eating habits and started walking as much as I could. At the beginning, that was less than ¼ mile. But soon that increased to a couple miles at a time, which encouraged me to try different kinds of exercise. Now, I do martial arts, I lift weights…I do some form of exercise 7 days a week. And I’ve lost over 100 pounds!”  Read more about Monique’s story.

Nick M. doesn’t let his Type 1 diabetes slow him down, and uses the HealthMiles program to help stay in balance.

“I was diagnosed with Type-1 (Juvenile) Diabetes 22 years ago, at age three. I decided to start training for my first half-marathon to prove to myself that I am just as healthy and capable as anyone else. For me, the toughest challenge has been balancing so much physical activity with my food intake and medication. The HealthMiles program helps me track my steps and keep up with how far I run. The pedometer has provided me with a way to log my running and to get a clear picture of what I need to do to reach my goal of crossing the finish line at the Country Music Half Marathon. I’ve never felt better about myself and I haven’t even gotten to the race yet! I will not let diabetes slow me down. Crossing the finish line will prove that, and hopefully inspire others to wear their GoZone pedometer every day.” Read more about Nick’s story.

Abby S. avoided medication and continues to stay active with the HealthMiles program.

“At 32 with 3 kids, I was out of shape and unhealthy, even though my outward appearance said otherwise. I was always tired and just never felt good. My doctor suggested some medications, and even a small medical procedure, but I wanted to think about it. I’m glad I did. I visited the Virgin HealthMiles website and a light bulb went off in my head: I was going to regain control of my life. I joined, and began to walk, which felt great. Then I began to jog, run, swim, dance, lift weights… and guess what?! No need for meds or a medical procedure. It’s two years later and I feel better than I have in a very long time. Thank you Virgin HealthMiles!”  Read more about Abby’s story.

We’ll continue to share individual stories with you here on The Uprising.  Meantime, check out the rest of this year’s Healthies recipients and their stories.

June 2011 marks the 3rd Annual National Employee Wellness Month.  And right now, across the country, more than 90 companies and over 40,000 of their employees are anxiously awaiting the results of this year’s National Employee Wellness Month Step Challenge.  Teams went toe-to-toe for 3 weeks, stepping up their activity, tracking results, and cheering each other on.  The winning team in each of the two divisions  gets $1,000 for their favorite charity and a place in National Employee Wellness Month history. The step challenge was part of the annual initiative to help business leaders learn how companies are developing successful prevention-focused health and wellness strategies, and how they’re using the workplace to nurture healthy social communities.  Stay tuned for the official challenge  results.

Meantime, there’s still one more week! Here are some great ways to get involved, show your support, and encourage your employees to celebrate National Employee Wellness Month and get more physical activity in their work day:

- First, make this “Sneaker Week” – allow your employees to wear sneakers/running shoes this week

- Encourage employees to take walks with colleagues at lunchtime every day this week

- Post signs near the elevators encouraging employees to take the stairs

- If you have a company Intranet, encourage employees to use it to share personal stories about how they fit activity into their day

- Make it a week of “Walk & Talk” meetings – instead of sitting in conference rooms, encourage employees to hit the pavement and walk while meeting instead

- Create a “Fitness Mantra” board, hang it in the lobby, and invite employees to write their personal mantras on it

And, of course, plan to become a Proud Supporter of National Employee Wellness Month 2012. Visit www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com to see this year’s list of Proud Supporters and learn how to pledge your support for 2012.

In celebration of June’s National Employee Wellness Month, we’ve been sharing some of the stories we’ve received from individuals about how their employer’s workplace wellness initiatives have helped them improve their health. Here’s a story from Jon H., a HealthMiles member since earlier this year.

Jon uses the Virgin HealthMiles program to help keep up his activity levels so he can better manage his MS.

“I started working for my current company at the beginning of February 2011. I’ve had MS for over 7 years but only started having trouble with it the past few. It primarily effects my gait through the symptoms of fatigue and spasticity. Together, they severely limit my walking distance when I regularly used to run at least 2 ½ miles on hills. I also used to be a touring drummer and am now completely impaired from that pursuit.

I have to park pretty far from my office, and hobble as I may, have pushed through to reach my truck/office even when it seemed like my destination was an impossibility. Now almost a month later, my strength has increased as has my endurance, and I’ve found myself keeping pace with those who are not in a hurry. I definitely have my bad days, but that’s the way it goes with this condition. Being able to track my activity with Virgin HealthMiles will make sure my steps stay above a certain level, as sitting increases my stiffness and spasticity.

That’s the long and the short of it. I’ve always been an active person/musician, and now I have assistance in making them my way of life again.”

Each year, in tandem with National Employee Wellness Month, Virgin HealthMiles recognizes an organization that serves as an outstanding wellness advocate with our annual Eye on Health awards.  We’re pleased to announce this year’s recipient: The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits for the United Methodist Church. 

“Forward-thinking employers are putting increased emphasis on prevention as the key to creating healthier workforces and lowering costs – and results show the approach is working,” said Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles.  “Virgin HealthMiles congratulates the General Board for its leadership in helping its population become and stay healthy.”

The General Board administers retirement, health, and welfare benefits plans, programs and funds for UMC clergy and lay employee participants across the United States.  22,000 participants and spouses are covered by the HealthFlex health plan and wellness program.  The General Board believes it helps create stronger churches when its leaders take care of themselves, so the non-profit organization sought to offer a comprehensive, results-focused wellness program.

The General Board’s wellness program includes the Virgin HealthMiles Integrated Incentives platform.  This enables the General Board to integrate its range of incentives-based wellness programs under one umbrella, making the company’s wellness program appear as a comprehensive whole.  By integrating incentives, the organization can easily add or replace specific incentives and programs.  It also helps the General Board’s population make logical connections between incentives and health behaviors, and better understand the strategy of assessing and then improving health. 

The General Board is already experiencing positive outcomes thanks to its focus on wellness.  “We’ve seen the healthcare cost trends are more favorable for people who are engaged in our wellness program than for those who aren’t,” says Kelly Wittich, Health and Wellness Program Manager for the General Board.  “The success we’re seeing on a broad basis plus the moving stories about how individuals’ lives have been changed for the better tells us our investment in wellness is paying off.  We’re delighted our efforts to create a healthier United Methodist Church have been recognized with this year’s Eye on Health award.” 

To read a case study on the General Board and see stories of individuals who serve as wellness advocates in their own organizations, visit http://www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com/.

Across the country, more than 90 companies and over 40,000 of their employees are supporting June’s National Employee Wellness Month.  They’re spreading the word that healthy behaviors such as getting more physical activity, along with a supportive environment in the workplace, can greatly improve health and help to lower healthcare costs.  Wondering what you can do to help spread the word about the importance of workplace wellness?  There’s lots both employers and employees alike can do.

If you’re an employer and you’re just getting started with health and wellness, check out case studies, statistics, and calculators to help learn about the potential impact such programs can have on your organization. If you’re further along the wellness path, review your current programs and determine if they’re helping improve the health of your workforce or if it’s time to make some strategic adjustments. Also, encourage employees to set a new health and wellness goal for the month of June.  For example, encourage them to walk 15 minutes more today than yesterday.  Try a new activity or take a new class at the gym.  Or try a few new healthy recipes each week.

If you’re an employee, ask your employer about the programs they have in place to support employee health. Get more active at work and encourage your co-workers to join you.  Take the elevator instead of the stairs, grab a far-away parking spot, and organize a lunchtime walking group. Also, know that wellness in the workplace is important, but make sure you take it home with you. Encourage your family to get active and healthy with you.  Take evening walks together after dinner. Try playing baseball together outside instead of watching it on TV.  Or take the dog for a longer walk.

Visit www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com for more ideas and check out resources, insights, and success stories about workplace wellness.

Healthcare costs are rising, but employers are proactively working to curb costs and create healthier workforces – and employees are getting onboard.

We recently conducted a survey of employers and employees across the country and released it to mark June’s National Employee Wellness Month. Survey findings showed that while 76 percent of American businesses report healthcare cost increases (some of as much as 10 percent year-over-year), nearly 90 percent of employers are now relying on employee health and wellness programs to lower costs. Seventy percent of employers now offer incentives to employees to participate in wellness initiatives. The approach is working: nearly 88 percent of employees said incentives were an extremely or somewhat important contributor to long-term participation in wellness programs.

Additionally, social networks are creating organizational cultures of good health. Forty-four percent of employers said leveraging an individual’s social connections with its workplace wellness programs has increased employee engagement. Almost 60 percent of employees said community and social elements of wellness programs were either “extremely” or “very” important in staying committed to good health.

“Employers and employees recognize they play a role in bending the healthcare cost curve – and it must start with prevention,” said Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles. “More companies are implementing prevention-based wellness initiatives and using tools such as incentives and social connections to drive long-term participation and healthy behavior change. The value of these strategies is powerful, and our survey results show they create healthier workforces.”

Check out the key results and full survey findings.

June 2011 marks the third annual National Employee Wellness Month. This annual initiative helps business leaders learn how companies have developed successful strategies around prevention and good health. It showcases how supportive social communities, such as the workplace, can help to improve employee health and productivity and lower healthcare costs, and how leveraging an individual’s social connections helps create and sustain a workplace culture of health. Together, the supporting National Employee Wellness Month organizations and their employees understand intelligent health decisions and supportive social communities can create a healthier, more productive workforce. Check out the video from Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles.