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WILKES-BARRE — Coffee break or time to exercise?
To recharge mentally and physically, stretching, yoga and walking are being encouraged by employers over that extra cup of Joe.
Erin Bufogle, a longtime member of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Walking Wednesday program, couldn’t agree more. She looks forward to organized and vigorous lunchtime walks with her co-workers.
Combating sedentary work habits — which constitute the majority of an employee’s time — many companies are instituting health and wellness programs. Programs can range from a full-fledged gym facility, medical consultations addressing lifestyle behavior risks or simple walking and step-counting programs.
The goal is to address employees’ top health concerns of stress and weight management, secession of smoking, alcohol and other drug habits.
The results benefit the employer and employee. Fewer sick days, higher production rates and an increase in employee satisfaction are some of the benefits of workplace wellness programs, said Jan Kretzschmar, chairman of the Exercise Science Center at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre.
“Regular exercise can raise employee satisfaction and production,” Kretzschmar said.
A 2012 Aflac Work Force report analyzed 42 studies on the effectiveness of workforce wellness programs and found companies reported a 28 percent reduction in sick days, a 26 percent reduction in health costs, and a 30 percent reduction in workers compensation and disability management claims, and a $5.93 to $1 savings-to-cost-ratio.
Local companies note a similar savings. Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre, implemented a wellness program, called Blue Health Solutions, three years ago.
After its first year, Anthony Matrisciano, corporate communications with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, reported the cost savings of the plan was $1.3 million, which included an increase of employee production.
Patricia Nash Christel, vice president of corporate communications with Navient, said that out of the 1,050 employees at Navient Wilkes-Barre, formerly Sallie Mae, 80 percent “take part in some element of the wellness program.”
Christel said the company agrees with quantitative savings of a wellness program but the company does not report bottom line savings.
Not all about dollars and cents
Wellness program are not all about measuring dollars and cents or production rates, but adding to the quality of life of employees by providing guidance and opportunities to meet their health needs.
Lisa Stashik, vice president of the Navient Wilkes-Barre site, said they sometimes have a trainer on the floor visiting with employees and encouraging light stretching to offset the repetitive motion of daily work. They also offer a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week nurse line, which employees can use for guidance on health issues.
“Employees really like the program,” Stashik said.
Navient’s gym provided three employees a place to train for the Steamtown Marathon, Stashik said.
Christel said some smaller Navient sites that do not have the space for an in-house gym offer compensation to employees to offset a gym membership.
The benefits of working out can exceed the physical aspect, Kretzschmar said. Employees sharing a health program with upper level management gives them an opportunity to network and share ideas.
Team building is an added benefit. For three years, Blue Cross of NEPA has maintained a walking program called Walking Wednesdays. The program has a total of 300 registered participants who lace up their sneakers and take a walk through downtown Wilkes-Barre at lunch.
“It only takes about 20 minutes to walk a mile,” said Pam Gurtis, employee health and wellness manager at Blue Cross of NEPA.
Bufogle has participated in the program since its start. Teaming up with seven co-workers, they pick a route and take a stroll.
Bufogle said the camaraderie through the program motivates her to get out, soak up some sun, and stretch her legs.
“It is a good opportunity to move and get some fresh air,” Bufogle said. “Walking is a great way to exercise, lose weight and manage high blood pressure.”
Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter at TLNews.