Employee Spotlight: Wellness Committee

When did the Wellness Committee start?

The committee started about three years ago in order to provide Gas South employees with more awareness about healthy lifestyle choices.

Why was the Wellness Committee created?

It was originally created to help employees get up and move, considering the majority of our employee sit at a desk all day. Since the start three years ago, we now have more concrete goals, leadership buy-in, employee engagement, participation and focus. We are currently working through a three-year implementation plan that aims to encourage employees to take more responsibility in managing their health and wellness. In 2015, we raised awareness about being healthy and the costs when employees make poor lifestyle choices. In 2016, we are requiring employees to take responsibility for themselves – employees will pay less for coverage by knowing their health numbers, and engaging in activities to get their numbers in the healthy range. In 2017, employees will receive financial rewards towards their medical coverage premiums tied to the results of the biometric screening, rather than just participating in the screening.

What are the focus areas and goals of the committee this year?

Since we want employees to take the initiative to be responsible for their healthy or unhealthy lifestyle decisions, we are focusing on nutrition in order to address, and then impact, the risk categories from our biometric screens – which take into consideration BMI and waist circumference.

What are the specific initiatives that will be implemented to reach those goals?

Every other month, we bring a local vegetable farmer into the office to encourage employees to investigate healthy eating options.  We also provide employees with a voucher so they do not need to spend any of their own money to make a purchase, unless they choose to purchase additional produce. We also continue to have fruit delivered every other month to create a culture of healthy eating.

Another initiative, the Wellness in Action Run/Walk Program, promotes movement and physical activity. We’re encouraging Gas South employees to walk or run in local road races throughout the year. Gas South sponsors a walk/run each month for up to ten Gas South employees and we have already had a few successful walks/runs to date!

Gas South also recently gave all employees portion plates to correspond with our initiative to improve and educate employees about nutrition’s role in a healthy lifestyle. The plate stresses healthy portion sizes and is split up into three sections – fruits and vegetables, grains, and proteins.

Do you have any employee challenges planned?

We are implementing a nutrition challenge in July and a weight loss challenge at the beginning of the year.

Why does wellness play such an important role at corporations?

Wellness can impact so many different areas of a corporation from retention to engagement to work/life balance. Wellness is also a major driver or healthcare costs.

Why is it important to you, personally, to be involved with the Wellness Committee?

To me, wellness is a lifestyle and I feel very passionate about it. Wellness is not only physical, but also mental and spiritual. It’s a holistic experience that bleeds into every part of one’s life. Secondly, being part of the Wellness Committee enables me to impact other people’s lives and for that, I’m very grateful.

Wellness committee members include:

Harli Gawronski
Julie Moffitt
Jonna Tiitinen
Denise Johnson
Tamika Smith
Brian Dugas
Tonya Long (Millennium Benefits)