3 minute read
Savings Times 2
Piloting our way to better health
Irecently was invited to attend the “Employee Health Improvement Forum” meeting sponsored by the Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI). AAC staff members are invited to a lot of meetings. Some we know exactly what we are getting into, and some we really don’t know what to expect. This meeting fell into the latter category for me.
I have been to many meetings about wellness programs. However, none have seemed to fit into the unique framework of county government. Our 75 counties are similar in many ways, yet completely different in others. The uniqueness of each county and each of its offices has made any “one-size-fits-all” program not fit at all.
I was thrilled to find that CHMI has put together a completely customizable wellness program geared toward small- to medium-sized businesses. It targets private business, however, because it can be adapted to many different situations and a variety of needs, I believe we can customize it for individual counties. One of the best aspects of the program is that there can be little to no cost to the county or its employees. The program includes simple ideas that with a little thought and planning, can be incorporated into the work day.
Why should counties care about the health of their employees in the first place? The philanthropic answer to that question is simple: human compassion for the people we work with every day.
While it’s true we care for our coworkers, counties and county officials have offices to run and jobs to do. So the financial bottom line answer to that question is that poor health costs businesses money — and that includes the business of county government.
According to the Clinton Foundation, poor health and well-being costs businesses nationwide more than $153 billion a year in lost productivity due to time away from work. Those particular numbers pertain to the private sector. However, poor health and well-being costs our counties money, as well. The cost comes in the form of absenteeism and presenteeism (or employees that are on the job but not fully functioning due to illness or other medical conditions).
According to CHMI, “Not only does poor health and well-being impact absences from work and productivity levels while on the job, it can reduce the likelihood of a person’s workplace engagement and retention.”
What seems to be causing all these health problems? CHMI states, “There are key behaviors that are contributing to poor health and well-being. Workrelated stress is the leading workplace health problem and a major occupational health risk. Inactivity and poor nutrition further impact employees’ energy levels, with productivity levels dropping after extended periods of sitting and poor nutrition impacting productivity up to 20 percent.”
CHMI’s approach to improving the health of employees begins with six simple steps. It recognizes that employers are in different phases of their well-being journey, so this cyclical approach is designed to be both flexible and adaptable with constant feedback, evaluation and refinement to align with your employees’ needs.
I am in training to learn how to present and facilitate this program, so I don’t have all the answers yet. However, I am looking for a few counties that would like to come on board and pilot this program with me.
Are your county’s employees interested in becoming healthier? Is your county interested in supporting its employees in becoming healthier? Can we build a team of people at all levels in various offices of your county that can put together a program that fits your county? If the answer to those questions is a resounding “yes” — or even a somewhat positive “maybe” — please contact me. Let’s talk and see if we can work together.
Because Arkansas seems to come in at or near the bottom of all the health rankings, as leaders across this state we need to step up and lead the charge to encourage healthy living. It doesn’t have to cost money. A little thinking outside of the box can do the job. Why? Because our health really does matter.
Savings times 2 Wallet & waistline
Becky Comet AAC Member Benefits Manager
