In today's hectic workplace, many companies are stretching their resources to do more with less, which sometimes causes health and wellness to take a backseat. Employees may eat too many meals at their desks, feel guilty about taking a much needed five-minute break or become so stressed that after work they hit the couch instead of the gym.
But employees at Teradyne, a Boston-based company that supplies automatic test equipment, are encouraged to make themselves a priority and to stay healthy. And now, thanks to the company's expanded partnership with Ceridian, it's easier than ever for Teradyne employees to learn about their own health and access a variety of resources that can impact their overall wellness.
Testing company puts Ceridian to the test
Although Teradyne has been a Ceridian LifeWorks services customer since 1989, the company only recently integrated Ceridian's health promotion and management solutions to supplement its various health care benefits offered nationwide.
"We added this key component because we wanted our employees to know that it's important for them to find the time to take care of themselves," says Lisa Noonan, a benefits analyst at Teradyne. "Because if they feel good, they're more likely to have a positive outlook and make meaningful contributions at work."
Healthy, productive and upbeat employees are important to Teradyne's bottom line and to its end users. The company tests semiconductor chips that power many of today's consumer electronics products. So, one might say that it's in everyone's best interest to keep Teradyne's 2,500 U.S. employees healthy and productive!
Noonan worked with her Ceridian Account Executive, Ellen Fallon, to design a health and wellness program that could be accessed by all of Teradyne's employees from coast-to-coast. "They have several health care benefit providers throughout the country, so they needed an umbrella health and wellness program that could be used by all of their employees, no matter where they were located or what insurance plan they had," Fallon explains.
Noonan also liked Ceridian's approach to health and wellness programs. "We wanted a program that would educate, create and raise awareness of fitness and health, and encourage and support behavioral changes that may impact medical costs in the long run," she notes.
And that's right on track with what today's forward-thinking companies are doing according to Ronnie Bragen, Ceridian product manager. "Employers are recognizing what has long been known in the industry - that up to 70 percent of health risks are modifiable and can be reduced with lifestyle behavior changes. Reduction of risks will mean reduction of claims, which in turn will help keep cost increases down," Bragen says. "While we can't impact genetic risks, companies can mitigate them by promoting healthy behaviors. Plus, we can help in the area of today's most modifiable health risks, which are weight management, stress and depression, and tobacco use."
Improving employee health and wellness
Ceridian helped Teradyne implement three key initiatives designed to improve the health and wellness of their employees: on-site activities, the Health Risk Assessment Tool and a walking program.
Ceridian contracted for services for several on-site activities that addressed an individual office's needs based on claims activity, known demographic tendencies and suggestions by nurses. One month they focused on cardiovascular health and offered risk assessments, blood pressure checks, cholesterol screening, nutrition counseling and exercise recommendations. Another month was devoted to back care, where employees enjoyed chair massages, learned how to prevent back injuries and received back screenings.
Next, Ceridian designed a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) online tool, where Teradyne employees and family members, ages 16 and older, could answer questions related to their individual health and wellness and then receive customized information about their overall status and how to improve their health in the future. As an added incentive to complete the HRA, participating employees received a pedometer and T-shirt. Within the first three months of the program, about 10 percent of the employees had completed the assessment.
Finally, Teradyne implemented a walking program where employees can log their steps and track their progress through an online tool developed by Ceridian. "We ran reports every month to determine our most avid walkers and provided incentives to winners in our various locations across the country," Noonan says. "These types of activities not only promote health and wellness, but fun and camaraderie among the employees as well."
One employee from Teradyne's Deerfield, IL office has already logged almost one million steps, or the equivalent of more than 450 miles. "I started walking to lose weight and so far I have lost 60 pounds. And, through walking, I have kept the weight off. I walk about a half an hour at lunch and then I walk at home. The pedometer is a friendly way to monitor how much activity I've had, and if the step count is low, I'm motivated to walk more later in the day. Walking has kept my weight and health in better shape."
An added bonus
A funny thing happened while employees were logging on to complete their HRA or track walking program steps. They stumbled upon an old friend: LifeWorks. Although LifeWorks Online was available to them for years, many employees are only now learning about its rich and vast resources.
"With implementation of our wellness program, employees became more aware of LifeWorks and the many different services, communications and materials that are available to them," Noonan says. "In fact, our LifeWorks participation jumped 91 percent from one quarter to the next and 78 percent of those who logged on were first-time users."
Noonan believes that the health promotion and management solutions are key to helping their employees maintain or improve their health. "It's great to see people getting out from behind their desks and walking during their lunch break," Noonan says. "I'm very grateful for Ceridian's help in making this program a viable part of our employees' goal toward healthier lifestyles."
What's for lunch?
At Minneapolis-based furniture retailer, Room & Board, creative employees are serving up healthy, home-made food for lunch. There isn't a cafeteria and instead of zapping frozen entrees in the microwave or making fast food runs, employees at Room & Board created the Healthy Lunch Club. The 30 members share cooking and preparation responsibilites and rotate among members. They prepare dishes for the club that are low in sodium and have less than 15 grams of fat. Other meal guidelines include having at least one serving of fruits and vegetables, use of whole grains and lunch should fall in the range of 500 - 600 calories. The Healthy Lunch Club has inspired offshoots at other Room & Board locations across the country.
"Healthy Lunch Club reinvents noon hour," Star Tribune, March 19, 2006
Just the facts- People who exercise at least twice a week during mid-life lower their Alzheimer's risk by 60 percent.
- Men who carry most of their excess weight around their middle have a higher stroke risk.
- Overweight/obese people spend up to $900 a year more in medical expenses than healthy weight people. Weight-related disorders cost as much or more than illnesses from cigarettes or alcoholism. The loss to employers is estimated at $1.3 billion per year in terms of associated health care, sick leave, life insurance and disability costs, and 30 million lost workdays are attributed to obesity annually.
- The combined indirect financial toll that depression and anxiety have on businesses is estimated at $146.2 billion per year. Meanwhile, stress-related physical and mental illnesses can cost companies as much as $7,500 per worker in absenteeism and lowered productivity each year.
- According to a recent survey, 84 percent of employees with access to health screenings participate in such screenings. Of the employees who participate, 47 percent eat healthier, 45 percent exercise more and 42 percent think about healthier options more often.
Sources: The Center for Disease Control, Principal Financial Group, Lancet Neurology, Journal of American Heart Association, RTI International, University of Virginia School of Medicine, U.S. Department of Labor.
What Teradyne employees are saying about health and wellness events- "I appreciate the convenience. I'm more likely to have things checked that I would not necessarily do otherwise."
- "Each bit of encouragement we can get as employees helps us help ourselves and reduces potential health expenses."
- "I think it's great that Teradyne is holding events like these."
- "Thanks for bringing these great events to the office."
For more information about Ceridian's health and wellness programs, see the related stories in this issue or contact your Ceridian representative.
