Employee Benefits: Worksite Wellness
From BestHealth, February 2007
Denise Ingram of Thomasville was exhausted, all day, every day, a year ago. She was too busy to go to the doctor.
But when her employer, Liberty Hardware, launched a wellness program with Wellness and Corporate Health Services of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, it was easy enough to walk down the hall for health screening tests offered at work.
A simple glucose test indicated she had extremely high blood sugar. “I was really sick, and I didn’t know it,” says Ingram, 53, who learned that diabetes was causing her fatigue.
Health screenings are just part of the BestHealth@Work program created by the Wellness and Corporate Health team for Liberty Hardware, a MASCO division. Based on their employee health risk assessments, the plan incorporates fitness and heart health programs, cholesterol and weight management, nutrition workshops and flu shots.
Health promotion is an investment in business success, says Wellness and Corporate Health manager Leigh Jones. “When your business depends on people, you have a vital stake in their good health. We work individually with companies to customize programs that will deliver results, based on their most prevalent health issues.”
Liberty Hardware Health and Safety Specialist Donna Osborne, R.N., knew the wellness program was on the right track when 59 percent of the 300 Union Cross employees signed on. When nearly 100 people completed a month-long, 10,000-steps-a-day walking program, feedback was positive. “People lost weight and said they had more energy and felt less stress,” says Osborne, who is tracking absenteeism, health costs and other markers of corporate wellness success.
Denise Ingram saw definite benefits from the worksite walking program. Over a period of months, walking helped her lose 38 pounds and manage her diabetes along with diet restriction.
“This program helps people learn to take better care of themselves—it’s a win for employees and employers alike,” says Osborne.
Healthy Investments
Helping employees stay healthy makes good business sense. Recent national studies show a $3.50 return for every dollar spent on employee wellness programs in reduced absenteeism and health care costs.
Wellness and Corporate Health Services of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center offers a combination of programs designed to help companies protect employee health.
• Best Health@Work provides a menu of worksite services, including health screenings, educational and interventional programs, weight management, diabetes education, walking programs and flu shots.
• The Executive Health Registry expedites health care worldwide for traveling executives.
• The Executive Physical Program facilitates comprehensive medical check-ups at WFUBMC for corporate leaders.
Wellness and Corporate Health Services works with more than 80 companies in the region. To learn more, call 336-716-1270.