Employers in Action
National Healthy Worksite Program Case Studies
In the case studies below, employer participants in the National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP) share their progress and challenges in bringing NHWP interventions to their workplaces or improving their existing programs. NHWP was designed to help employers put into action science- and practice-based disease-prevention and wellness strategies that would lead to specific measurable health outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates. From 2013-2015, each employer in the NHWP received support, training, and technical assistance to put in place a combination of program, policy, and environmental interventions to support physical activity, good nutrition, and tobacco-use cessation.
Health Matters at H.J. Umbaugh & Associates
H.J. Umbaugh & Associates is one of the largest independent financial advisors to government agencies in the Midwest. The company had a tobacco-free campus policy, offered a few seminars on various health-related behaviors, and distributed some health promotion marketing materials through internal communication channels. However, its efforts were not tied together as part of an ongoing, comprehensive program. Umbaugh joined the NHWP and now has the resources and guidance to put together a tailored wellness program.
Supporting the Employees Who Keep Bakersfield Moving at Golden Empire Transit
Golden Empire Transit (GET) provides public bus transportation to the Bakersfield metropolitan area in Kern County, California. GET applied to join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP) with the hope of learning a structured approach to setting up new wellness initiatives. Once GET was accepted into the NHWP, the organization received technical assistance to help it identify and address its unique needs.
Change Through Planning at Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare
Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare (GLMHC) is a full-service community mental health center that has provided behavioral health care services to the citizens of Pierce County, Washington, for over 50 years. The center’s mission is to improve mental health for children, adults, and families by providing a comfortable setting for counseling and medication services. Before participating in the CDC’s National Healthy Worksite Program, Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare (GLMHC) had a health promotion committee and some initiatives and supports in place to promote good employee health. However, the center’s CEO and senior leadership team were committed to doing more to address the core value of promoting employee health and well-being.
Motivating Employees to Take Charge of Their Health at First South Financial Credit Union: Case Study
First South Financial Credit Union is a member-owned, federally insured financial institution based near Memphis, Tennessee. Before participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP), First South Financial had a wellness committee and had put some initiatives into place to support employee health. Still, the organization wanted to do more.
Making Healthy Changes to a Small Worksite at Rolling Hills Consolidated Library: Case Study
Rolling Hills Consolidated Library of St. Joseph, Missouri, applied to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP) in 2013 because the library director wanted to give the staff a way to adopt or improve healthy lifestyles. Rolling Hills’ leaders recognized that their own employees need to be in good health to live and carry out the library’s vision.
Improving Their Own Health to Better Serve Others at United Way of Pierce County: Case Study
The leadership at United Way of Pierce County (UWPC) saw the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP) as a way to bring worksite wellness programs to its employees to align with the organization’s community-impact areas of health care access and wellness.
Wellness Matters at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department: Case Study
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department tackles known and emerging health risks through policies, programs, and treatment in order to protect public health. Through activities such as preventing and controlling disease outbreaks, educating food workers, and inspecting septic systems, the Health Department promotes healthier communities where people live, work, and play throughout Pierce County.
Learning to Live Healthy at Hillyard Companies
Hillyard applied principles of implementing a comprehensive health promotion program learned during the NHWP by putting in place a combination of programs, policies, and environmental supports to address multiple areas of employee health.
Creating a Culture of Health for All at Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living: Case Study
Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living (MERIL) is a small community-based, non-residential, nonprofit healthcare and social assistance organization serving nine counties in northwest Missouri, designed to empower people with disabilities to actively and independently participate in society.
Moving Forward Toward Health Together at CIPROMS: Case Study
CIPROMS, Inc. is a mid-sized company specializing in medical coding and billing services. CIPROMS has a 95% female workforce and leadership team. CIPROMS’ employees work hard to achieve their client-focused mission to “deliver effective, medical-practice solutions that enable our clients to realize their passion for practicing medicine… without enduring endless administrative burdens.”
Working to Win at Worklogic HR: Case Study
Worklogic HR is a privately-held company that serves the human resource management needs of small and mid-sized firms in and around California. By delivering tailored human resource, benefit, payroll, safety and workers’ compensation business solutions—Worklogic HR simplifies its clients’ human resource management processes, reduces the associated costs, and frees up management to focus on core competencies and moving their companies forward.
Creating a Healthy Culture Where People Matter Most at One Click Ventures: Case Study
Established in 2005, One Click Ventures (OCV), was the first retailer to offer consumers a personalized experience to buying eyewear online. OCV is a growing ecommerce company near Indianapolis, Indiana. When it started the CDC National Healthy Worksite Program in 2013, OCV had about 40 employees, but it grew by 50% during the program.
Work@Health Program Case Studies
In the case studies below, participants in the Work@Health training program share their progress and challenges in training employers and others, through different educational models. How to bring science- and practice-based disease-prevention and wellness strategies to their worksites. The aim of Work@Health is to achieve specific measurable health outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates. Each trainee participating in Work@Health receives support, training, and technical assistance to show employers how to put in place a combination of program, policy, and environmental interventions to support physical activity, good nutrition, and tobacco-use cessation.
Employee Wellness at Cedars-Sinai Health System
Cedars-Sinai Health System is the largest independent, nonprofit hospital in the western United States known for providing the highest quality patient care through a dedication to excellence, compassion, and innovation that is rooted in the Judaic tradition. Cedars-Sinai’s employee wellness program was established in 2010. It joined the CDC’s National Healthy Worksite Program in 2012 to expand the program and has since implemented several employee health initiatives, including activities and environmental changes.
Gaining Workplace Health Promotion Knowledge and Skills that Follow You Wherever You Go
When Justin Carlton was hired by Cherokee Nation Businesses in 2013, he was charged with developing a worksite wellness program. As part of his search for resources, Carlton contacted the CDC, learned about the Work@Health program, and was selected to participate in a hands-on training session in May 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. After the training, participants received 6 to 10 months of technical assistance in the form of coaching, webinars, and interactions with peers. Having the Work@Health tools saved Carlton time and effort, and allowed him to focus on his organization’s needs.
Korbel Champagne Cellars – Toast Life® and Embrace Work@Health
Korbel Champagne Cellars has produced fine California méthode champenoise champagnes for 133 years. To address the dangers common in large-scale champagne production, Korbel has a strong, long-standing safety program. A few years ago, the company decided to take action to promote workplace health as well.
“Healthy Dawgs” at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy emphasizes the critical role that pharmacists play on the patient care team, not only dispensing medicines and educating patients, but also helping prevent disease and promote wellness. Before participating in the Work@Health program, the College of Pharmacy’s efforts consisted of programs that were operating independently instead of collaboratively across the UGA campus. The college was looking for a way to address that imbalance and found it in Work@Health.
At Open Hand, It’s about More than a Meal-It’s Wellness at Work: Case Study
Open Hand is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive nutrition care that combines home-delivered meals and nutrition education for a diverse population of men, women, and children with unique nutrition needs. Its programs and services are designed to help clients meet their personal goals for good health.
Bringing Work@Health to More Employers through NC Medical Society Employee Benefits Plan: Case Study
Jason Horay works with doctors in North Carolina to integrate a long-term, sustainable wellness strategy that includes lifestyle and risk-reduction programs; policy development; annual exams and preventive screening; biometric screenings; and healthy living presentations that link employee well-being with organizational performance.
Being Magnificent at MagMutual Insurance Company: Case Study
Founded by doctors in 1982, MagMutual provides medical professional liability insurance to US doctors and hospitals. With six offices covering 10 Southeastern states, MagMutual is the largest medical mutual insurer in the region, and the fourth largest in the United States offering comprehensive risk management and patient safety programs.
Building a Healthy Environment at SEPI: Case Study
SEPI is a mid-size, full service civil engineering, surveying, planning, remediation, and construction management firm that provides services to private and public clients. SEPI’s organizational culture is dedicated to building great environments, including its own working environment.
Well4Life at SciMetrika: Case Study
SciMetrika is a privately held scientific and public health research organization focused solely on improving human health. The executive team and a multidisciplinary staff of public health and technical professionals bring rigor and innovation to solve complex population health challenges.
Lake Cumberland District Health Department Working on Wellness: Case Study
The mission of the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD) is to prevent illness and injury, promote good health practices, and ensure a safe environment to protect and improve the health of its communities.
Three Rivers District Health Department Sets Example by Splashing into Health: Case Study
The Three Rivers District Health Department (TRDHD) is working to deliver essential public health services in the best way possible through employee training, an “All One Team” attitude, and a multifaceted public health effort that includes programs, policies, and preventive services.
Employer Profiles
The workplace health programs listed below represent a diverse group of programs among small employers in different industry sectors and regions of the country. These profiles were gathered during the planning and development phase of the CDC Work@Health® employer-based workplace health training program through telephone interviews.
None of the employers featured have participated directly in the program. The profiles are intended to provide examples of successful workplace health programs and strategies while also acknowledging some common challenges faced by employers. They are not intended as endorsements. For more information on developing workplace health programs, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/.
ASTHO’s workplace health program participation rises due to health and wellness credits
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials [PDF – 616 KB]
Farmer’s Rural Electric Cooperative human resources coordinator says “safety and wellness rock!”
Kahler Slater, Inc. CEO credited with the success of the firm’s workplace health program, in which 98% of employees participate
Lincoln Industries Wellness Manager says the company’s workplace health program has brought a 3-to-1 return on investment in it
Northern Plains Railroad Inc., workplace health plan has 27 percent of the company’s employees now participating in its tobacco-free program
Sakakawea Medical Center’s staff lose weight and lower blood pressure since its workplace health program began
Shape Corp.’s wellness manager says the company’s workplace health program protects its “most important asset” – its employees
Spectrum Aeromed credits its workplace wellness program with a seven percent reduction in health insurance premiums
Walker & Dunlop Inc. benefits coordinator says participation in the company’s workplace health program has risen and absences have fallen