Why Employee Health Matters

Rising health insurance costs have been a topic of discussion for employers and employees alike, from our city government to the private sector. Oftentimes, the conversation centers around how to minimize those costs while still providing access to plans that meet employee needs. But the health of our city workforce should be more than just a financial concern and, to that end, we should be taking the lead on addressing issues of health and wellness apart from just providing an insurance plan.

Studies show that wellness programs are a way of showing employees that they are cared about. And happy workers improve the system all around, from interactions with co-workers to dealing with the public. City workers are the ‘face’ of the city and boosting morale amongst employees will not only make their jobs more rewarding, but will serve as a model for the community.

The Rochester Business Journal teamed up with Rochester BC/BS to present “Wealth of Health” awards to private sector employers that involve their employees in creative wellness activities that yield measurable positive results. Geneva’s own Guardian Industries was a winner in the “Midsize Firms” category. The facility has an on-site gym with fitness equipment, and creates incentives for employees that use it. They have also introduced healthy alternative to their vending machines and have a “HealthGuard Football” program where employees are divided into teams named after their NFL favorites and compete with others on weight loss goals, number of steps taken, and other wellness measures.

All nine winning organizations are featured in the June 1st Journal and their programs were highlighted at a ceremony in Rochester on June 5th. There are many innovative strategies that are described, and many would be easy for the City to implement in the near term. For instance:

1. A monthly ‘pot-luck’ luncheon with employees bringing healthy dishes around a particular theme (i.e., green foods in March). This provides a social outlet for employees as well as introducing new foods and preparation techniques.
2. Sponsoring teams in competitive sports leagues such as softball, bocce, and basketball.
3. Sponsoring smoking cessation programs and support groups.
4. Sponsoring a health screening clinic and providing each participating employee with a specific goal that would earn him/her an additional day or two of vacation. (If an employee has high cholesterol, the goal might be to lower it by 5 points within three months; if an employee is very fit, the goal might be to complete the Musselman Triathlon, or mini-Mussel this month).
5. Including tips on wellness and/or healthy recipe ideas in employee paycheck envelopes.
6. Providing incentives for participation in events like Relay for Life and the March of Dimes walk.

These are relatively simple ideas for promoting a sense of well-being amongst city workers. In the long term, of course, the city does stand to gain financially from these efforts. A healthier workforce means better insurability: better coverage at a lower cost. Right now, municipal workers are not considered, by the insurers, to be the healthiest group which means that there is more risk of disease and therefore the insurance costs more. If we can turn the tide on that, we believe that the benefit would be felt all around the city!