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Making employee health a priority
By Janice Youngwith
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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| Bill Santulli (in sunglasses at bottom left), co-chair of the 2007 Start! Heart Walk, is pictured with members of the Advocate Health Care Start! Heart Walk team. |
Investing in the health of employees is one of the best decisions a company can make.
“It's a win-win situation, good for our employees and good for the organization,” says Bill Santulli, executive vice president, Advocate Health Care, Oakbrook.
Santulli, who co-chaired the 2007 Start! Heart Walk, believes in leading by example, and says supporting employee health and encouraging physical activity makes sense. His organization was among those helping to launch the American Heart Association's ”Start! With the CEO” initiative and Start! walking program last year and continues to make employee health a top focus.
“The basic message is for employers to step up,” explains Santulli, whose 25,000 employees at eight Chicago-area sites have a long history of partnering with the AHA to raise heart health awareness and fund lifesaving cardiovascular research by participating in the Start! Heart Walk.
“Walking is great, especially in terms of cardiovascular health, as it promotes weight loss, lowers blood cholesterol, increases circulation, reduces stress, boosts energy levels and much more,” he says. “Brisk walking for just 30 minutes a day can mean big rewards as every hour of exercise can mean an additional two hours of life.”
Wellness efforts a precious resource
With more pressure than ever before, corporate America is struggling to be profitable while health care costs continue to rise.
“Employee wellness efforts help our most precious resource, our employees, to enhance their lifestyle while also improving company performance,” Santulli notes.
Experts indicate that because adult Americans spend a majority of their waking hours at work — many in sedentary careers — they are at risk for a host of medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
“Documented studies show fitness programs have reduced employer health care costs by 20-50 percent,” Santulli says.
“As with any organization-wide initiative, it's vital to create excitement starting at the top. Participation depends on top-level involvement. It is our hope that by encouraging and rewarding employees' physical activity, both individual health and the corporate bottom line will improve.”
Most executives like Santulli say that creating an environment based on wellness is the key to have healthier employees and ultimately lower health care costs.
At his organization, that commitment includes smoke-free status at all Advocate hospitals including Good Samaritan; Good Shepherd, Barrington; Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn; Lutheran General, Park Ridge; and South Suburban, Hazel Crest.
In addition to reduced-fee fitness center memberships, smoking cessation programs, weight management programs and on-site fitness facilities, the Start! walking and movement program, Santulli says a new benefit incentive will offer employees a discount on health insurance premiums if they complete a new health questionnaire and are non-smokers.
Recognizing fit-friendly companies
Challenging corporate America to create a culture of physical activity in the workplace is timely, according to Chris Curtis, president, Palatine-based Schneider Electric USA, a world leader in power and electrical controls manufacturing a comprehensive range of products and services for the residential, buildings, industry and energy and infrastructure markets.
“Companies making a conscious commitment to launch, commit to and follow a worksite physical activity program and promote a culture of activity will be surprised by the terrific tools and resources already available,” says Curtis, 50, who co-chaired the 2007 Start! Heart Walk and who has a vested personal interest in heart health after having a mild heart attack himself four years ago.
With a strong commitment to promote healthy lifestyles, Curtis says Schneider Electric's corporate headquarters in Palatine is among the first to complete requirements for AHA Start! Fit-Friendly recognition as a leading employer championing employee health and fitness.
Wellness programs yield benefits
The AHA Fit-Friendly recognition program, awarded in three levels, recognizes employers and companies for progressive leadership and establishing innovative wellness practices such as adding walking routes, promoting walking programs, online newsletters and tracking tools to motivate employees and allowing staff to wear athletic walking shoes in the workplace on designated “sneaker” days.
“Reducing absenteeism, increasing productivity, lowering turnover rates and reducing health care costs all are benefits,” Curtis says.
“Physical activity and wellness need to become part of the organization's DNA, not just another program. When corporate leaders make health a priority and show their commitment, employees follow.”
Schneider Electric demonstrates its commitment to 1,000 local employees and 16,000 employees across the country, Curtis notes, by supporting health club memberships, sponsoring a variety of on-site fitness areas, offering health assessment screenings for employees and funding smoking cessation programs.
“This all started with a focus on safety and customer satisfaction,” Curtis notes. “In the electrical industry, safety experts estimate that one professional dies every day in work-related accidents. In our five-year journey to reduce injury and accidents, we've pioneered a new safety pathway in the electrical industry and discovered part of being safe is being healthy and alert on the job.”
For information on the American Heart Association's Start! walking program, what employers can do to get their employees moving, and a Fit-Friendly corporate designation, call the American Heart Association at (312) 476-6685.
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