We spend on average more than one-third of the best and most productive parts of our days, at least five days per week, at work.
Work is considered the second most common source of stress (after money).
A stressful work environment is the reason 40 percent of people change jobs.
And, there is much that can be done besides health benefits and healthy snacks to build healthy and happy workplaces.
Clinton Health Matters Initiative
In August, I had the pleasure of presenting at the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation’s Employee Health Improvement Forum, that brought together outstanding business, thought and health leaders to discuss and promote health and wellness in Northeast Florida.
I was proud to speak on behalf of Marks Gray and its award-winning wellness program.
I joined energetic, inspiring and talented speakers, including Allison Keller, PGA Tour executive vice president, who spoke about the TOUR HEALTH, a remarkable four-phase program the PGA Tour at The Players implemented to improve the health of its employees and our community.
According to the County Health Rankings, Northeast Florida is home to both Florida’s county with the best health outcomes, St. Johns, and one of the least healthy, Baker (ranked 62 out of 67 counties).
This disparity reflects in important markers for these counties and our region including employment, educational achievements and access to healthy foods.
At the event, CHMI cited research from the Gallup Business Journal (2012) that shows the un-well workforce costs employers $153 billion annually, a figure set to rise to $1.201 trillion by 2023 and $5.668 trillion by 2050.
Employee wellness programs can and are reversing this trend by decreasing healthcare costs and increasing work productivity.
Thriving employees cost employers 41 percent less than employees who are struggling, and 62 percent less than employees who are suffering from ill health.
According to the American Heart Association, at least 30 percent of healthcare costs for workers are the result of poor diet and lack of exercise.
Those are things we can fix. All it takes is 30 minutes of exercise a day to put someone on the path to a stronger, healthier and longer life.
Marks Gray’s wellness program
Here are some of the key components of Marks Gray’s successful wellness program:
• Management support and engagement (our shareholders not only support the program, they participate)
• Regular planning and communications (involving meetings, but also just emails on health and wellness tips)
• Diverse wellness committee (composed of shareholders, associates and staff)
• A dedicated budget (ours is less than $5,000, but we have done a lot with it)
Our program has included on-site and free employee health screenings, flu shots annually, personalized wellness coaching, yoga classes, chair massages, healthy snacks, paid entries to local run/walk events and wellness education offered during office hours, including stress management, healthy eating and weight loss/management.
The program has not only led to weight loss and heightened health awareness, but it has also solidified the camaraderie and teamwork among our staff.
Weight loss and/or management is generally 75 percent diet and 25 percent exercise.
By offering healthy food choices at meetings and functions, sharing healthy recipes, having a refrigerator and freezer for home-brought lunches and sharing tips on how to read labels and understand portion sizes, we are also giving our employees the support they need to make better health choices.
A win-win
Healthcare is a monumental issue for employers, our community and our nation, and too much is at stake to not take action. Workplace wellness is beneficial to the individual, the organization and our community.
Individuals will benefit from a supportive environment that leads to increased engagement, reduced stress and improved health behaviors, which will also allow them to have more energy and drive to give to family, friends and our community.
Organizations will benefit from reduced healthcare costs and absenteeism, increased productivity, improved recruitment/retention and employee morale.
I congratulate the law firms, schools and other employers that have taken proactive steps to implement effective worksite wellness programs, including Pajcic & Pajcic; Coker, Schickel, Sorenson, Posgay, Carmalengo & Iraki; Jimerson & Cobb; and Florida Coastal School of Law. Congratulations to you.
Let’s continue to work together to make The Jacksonville Bar Association, our members and community the best they can be.