Worksites take steps to decrease healthcare expenses, increase productivity
Tampa, FL – BeniComp Health Solutions has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association for the second year in a row by helping employees eat better and move more.
“Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at BeniComp. We are honored and excited to be recognized for two years in a row by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite,” said Doug Short, President and CEO of BeniComp Health Solutions. “We’re committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our employees’ health and produce even more positive results for our worksite overall.”
Platinum-level employers:
- Offer employees physical activity options in the workplace.
- Increase healthy eating options at the worksite.
- Promote a wellness culture in the workplace.
- Implement at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.
- Demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.
BeniComp’s primary achievement in securing their second Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite award was due to increased
employee participation of 95% in their employer-sponsored wellness program, which measures BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels, and nicotine use. BeniComp also encourages healthy living in the workplace by offering each employee the ability to speak with a trained Health Coach, free of charge, where he or she will receive education and guidance for customized approaches to a healthy life.
The Fit-Friendly Worksites program is a catalyst for positive change in the American workforce by helping worksites make their employees’ health and well-being a priority.
American employers are losing an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of health care expenses and health-related losses in productivity, and those numbers are rising. Many American adults spend most of their waking hours at sedentary jobs. Their lack of regular physical activity raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Employers face $12.7 billion in annual medical expenses due to obesity alone. The American Heart Association is working to change corporate cultures by motivating employees to start walking, which has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.
Recognition is a critical component of the Fit-Friendly Worksites program. Employers that join this program qualify for official recognition by the American Heart Association. Qualifying worksites also have the right to use the program’s annual recognition seal for internal communications and with external, recruitment-related communications.
“The Fit-Friendly Worksites Program offers easy-to-implement ways for organizations to help employees eat better and move more, which will help improve their health – and their employer’s bottom line,” said Teresa Royer, Indiana representative for the American Heart Association. “Even people who haven’t exercised regularly until middle age can reap significant benefits by starting a walking program. A study published in 1986 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that some adults may gain two hours of life expectancy for every hour of regular, vigorous exercise they performed.”
For more information about the Fit-Friendly Worksites program and how it’s helping to improve the health of Americans by focusing on the workplace, call 260-413-3500 or visit heart.org/worksitewellness.
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About BeniComp
Founded in 1962, BeniComp later expanded its services to include BeniComp Advantage, a supplemental group health insurance product that identifies health risks early and aims to proactively improve health in America. Offering employee wellness solutions nationwide, BeniComp's patent-pending policy has received numerous awards for innovation and best practices. BeniComp has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Employee Benefit News, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Medscape, and other publications for its innovative approach to providing solutions. For more information about BeniComp, visit benicomp.com.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Our mission drives everything we do. To improve the lives of all Americans, we provide public health education in a variety of ways. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org.