A record number of U.S. employers have been honored by the National Business Group on Health for their continuing commitment to promoting healthy work environments and encouraging workers to choose healthier lifestyles. Thirteen first-time winners joined a total of 66 large employers to receive “2010 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” awards at the Business Group’s Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being Leadership Summit held in Washington, DC.
“Employers all across the nation are recognizing just how important a healthy workplace and workforce are to improving productivity as well as controlling health care costs,” said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health. “The 66 employers that we are recognizing exemplify the kind of innovation and commitment that’s possible to providing lifestyle improvement programs.”
Now in its sixth year, the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards acknowledge and reward those employers who have improved their workers’ health, productivity, and quality of life. The program goal is to encourage employers to take action.
“What is truly exciting this year is the creativity and innovation that so many employers are bringing to their wellness and health management programs,” said LuAnn Heinen, vice president of the National Business Group on Health. “We’re seeing new and improved engagement strategies matched to a company or work-site culture, increased attention to corporate policy supporting healthy lifestyles, and stronger alignment of benefit design and incentives with health improvement targets. Important trends include family and community involvement, improved metrics to assess program performance, and efforts to engage less accessible or decentralized employees.”
Winners of the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards were honored in one of three categories: Platinum, for established workplace well-being programs with measurable success and documented outcomes; Gold, for creating cultural and environmental changes that support employees who are committed to long-term behavior changes; and Silver, for employers who have launched programs or services to promote living a healthier lifestyle. Six employers have been honored each year of the program: Baptist Health South Florida, Mayo Clinic, Pitney Bowes Inc., Quest Diagnostics, Target, and Union Pacific.
The National Business Group on Health is the nation’s only nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers’ perspective on national health policy issues and providing practical solutions to its members’ most important health care problems. NBGH helps drive today’s health agenda while promoting ideas for controlling health care costs, improving patient safety and quality of care, and sharing best practices in health benefits management with senior benefits, HR professionals, and medical directors from leading corporations. Business Group members, which include 63 Fortune 100 companies, provide health coverage for more than 50 million US workers, retirees, and their families. For more information, visit www. businessgrouphealth.org.