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Horizon, Howard Chamber Establish Workplace Wellness Award

(The Business Monthly) -- By Joseph Patrick Bulko



The Howard County Chamber of Commerce and The Horizon Foundation have joined forces to launch the inaugural Workplace Wellness Award. Local businesses are invited to participate in the initiative, which aims to recognize businesses promoting employee health and wellness, rewarding the top performers with a $2,500 prize.

Horizon President and CEO Richard Krieg, whose organization addresses wellness issues through grants, community initiatives and partnerships, said it is fully funding the ongoing award.

"It's not just about the monetary prize, but more about implementing a consciousness of workplace wellness throughout the business community. Though, for small businesses, $2,500 is a nice prize," Krieg said.



Looking to Motivate

"The award motivates businesses to implement wellness initiatives," said Caroline Sherman, business development officer for the PCA Group in Columbia. "We look at the company's [financial] health, but we don't always look at the health of the employees. The health of employees impacts the bottom line."

The award recognizes three types of workplace wellness:

* Physical health and wellness programs, which include exercise, nutrition, cancer awareness and prevention, smoking cessation, injury prevention and stress management

* Psychological health programs, which include employee involvement, employee growth and development, employee recognition, family support, community service and easy access to employee support systems, such as employee assistance, mental health and substance abuse services

* Environmental health programs, including physical plant maintenance, air quality, and safety and security. These ensure that employees have a healthy work environment without exposure to toxic substances while promoting high-quality safety practices.

"The award is wide open for interpretation," said Sherman, who is a member of the chamber committee responsible for developing the award program. "There are no 'best practices' yet. We want to give attention to what everyone's doing. The first year is the awareness year. Every participating business will be recognized."



Healthy Equals Productive

There is a link between the health of the workforce and insurance costs and productivity, Krieg explained. "It is advantageous to companies to do simple things to incentivize good health for employees. We think we've come up with a very doable program that will generate interest in the business community."

According to Horizon, studies have proven that preventable illnesses have a direct effect on employer health care costs, disability, workers' compensation, increased absenteeism, lower productivity, reduced safety and morale.

A safe and healthy workplace is integral to achieving organizational excellence, according to the foundation's research. A favorable work environment for employees leads to the right approach to satisfying customers, clients and stakeholders.

Illnesses like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic pain impact the health of employees. Often, these diseases result from lifestyle behaviors, which might include lack of exercise, smoking, improper nutrition and obesity, and alcohol/substance abuse.

Psychological factors and illnesses, including depression, can also impact productivity adversely. According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, health care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers reporting high levels of stress.

"More than 75% of medical costs are due to preventable illness," said Pam Klahr, president and CEO, Howard County Chamber of Commerce. "We really want our members to apply for and compete for these dollars.

"If there's one cry from the business community that I hear constantly, it's about health care costs. 'How do we get control of them?' The best way to do so is to be proactive before costs skyrocket," Klahr said. "Otherwise, costs will continue to go through the roof. Every dollar spent on wellness is returned in lower insurance costs."



Everyone Can Win

"There are about 7,000 small businesses in Howard County," Krieg said. "We can point them in the right direction. Improved productivity can be handled through workplace wellness programs. Many of these things are simple to implement. We have resources to get [companies] on board. Many Howard County companies are already implementing wellness initiatives."

"Small businesses can be devastated" if key employees develop serious health issues. "For business owners, keeping people healthy is important," Sherman said. "If you feel better, you do a better job."



Getting Involved

Award determinations will be made based on evidence of development and implementation of a wellness program. The selection committee will look for the percentage of employee participation; evidence of changes in behavior, such as total pounds lost, regular physical activity and reduction in absenteeism; and improved morale as determined by employee surveys, increased employee retention, etc. Finalists will be asked to have employees participate in an online survey to determine satisfaction with the wellness program.

Business applicants must have an office in Howard County and will be recognized in two categories: companies with 25 or fewer employees and those with 26 or more.

Applications may be obtained from www.howardchamber.com or www.the horizonfoundation.org, and may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

Submissions must be made to the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, 5560 Sterrett Place, Suite 105, Columbia, MD 21044. Call Anne Darr for more information at 410-730-4111, x 105 or e-mail adarr@howardchamber.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 30, 2006.