Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • September 16, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 21 CONNECTICUT'S HEALTHIEST EMPLOYERS 2019 1 st PLACE | CATEGORY: 1,000 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES Diversified Group makes wellness part of company culture By Wendy Pierman Mitzel Special to the Hartford Business Journal D iversified Group not only offers its customers a worksite wellness plan, it offers programs to its own employees as well. Company leaders say creating a healthy workplace translates to hap- pier employees, high retention rates and increased customer service. According to Alison Sear- les, Diversified Group's client service special- ist, continuity and accessibility are key to defin- ing the culture of wellness within the health insurance firm. Work- ers can take exercise classes during lunch breaks and organize their schedules in a way that allows them to attend monthly programs like meditation, wellness coaching and fitness challenges. "Employees want to be healthy and just a little push from Diversified Group has helped some individuals make huge strides when it comes to health," she explained. "When employees come back from their spin class, yoga or meditation session, they feel a little more clear-headed, a little more energized and ready to tackle the rest of their day as op- posed to hitting that 2 p.m. crash." Employees can choose from ac- tivities led by educated and trained professionals and held on a regular basis. They include weekly fitness classes such as yoga, spinning and strength; monthly meditation ses- sions; monthly wellness-focused activities; quarterly wellness chal- lenges; and on-demand health coach- ing or dietetic counseling. Diversified Group provides pro- grams regularly so employees make wellness part of their everyday rou- tine, said Searles. "The goal of our program is to instill the concept that wellness is a lifelong priority," she added. Targeting the needs and wants of some 55 em- ployees is another important part of offering the right programs to gain participa- tion. Recently, Diversified Group began instruction in yoga nidra, also referred to as sleep yoga, on the sugges- tion of the holistic health specialist. Diversified Group also has a robust incentive campaign that offers small rewards for meeting certain bench- marks and larger ones for commit- ments spanning the entire year. "Rewards initially motivate em- ployees to participate in our wellness challenges and activities, but many have recognized that they truly feel better when they participate and this encourages them to keep going," Sear- les said. "We have quite a few people who now lead healthy lifestyles simply because they learned how great being healthy feels." The program is communicated to employees through a new well- ness portal. In addition, a yearly aggregate evaluation, along with satisfaction surveys and one-on-one meetings, allow for adjustments and improvements. Diversified Group Headquarters: Marlborough Industry: Health insurance and benefits administration Top Executive: Brooks T. Goodison, President A Diversified Group employee gets a health screening. 2 nd PLACE | CATEGORY: 1,000 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES Healthy food for sale, healthy workforce on staff Stew Leonard's Industry: Grocery Top Executive : Stew Leonard Jr., CEO Fast Fact: This past year, 81 percent of Stew Leonard's employees and spouses completed their physical and 88 percent of workers and spouses completed their health- reimbursement arrangements. S tew Leonard's, a fresh farm foods grocery store, has hired a lot of people in the process of grow- ing from a small farm with seven employees in 1969 to a busi- ness that does nearly $400 mil- lion in sales each year, and em- ploys about 2,000 people. For chief execu- tive Stew Leonard Jr., that means the company has to look out for the health of that many more workers. Leonard is the driving force behind Stew Leonard's "Get Your Physical" campaign, which encourages employ- ees to develop an ongoing relationship with their primary care physicians. He also is a major proponent of the company's Fitbit Challenge. Additionally, an on-site nurse at Stew Leonard's provides screenings, coaching, education and helps with referrals to doctors and facilities. Each year the company also names a health and wellness award winner. 3 rd PLACE | CATEGORY: 1,000 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES Architectural firm builds up employee wellness The SLAM Collaborative Industry: Architectural design Top Executive: Robert F. Pulito, President Fast Fact: The SLAM Wellness Program began in 1994, and now is a firm-wide comprehensive program of wellness seminars, activities, insurance incentives, ergonomic evaluations, health screenings and dissemination of healthy lifestyle information. A t Glastonbury-based architec- tural firm The SLAM Col- laborative, the proof is in the pudding when it comes to its well- ness program's success. In each of the past two years, 48 percent of the 85 company employ- ees who partici- pated in SLAM's health screening improved their body mass index and enhanced good choles- terol while lowering bad cholesterol by about 30 percent. Programs held throughout the year include the two-month "Maintain Don't Gain" initiative to motivate workers to avoid packing on weight during the party-filled holiday sea- son, and an informational series on everything from everyday toxins to elder law. Additionally, SLAM has developed a comprehensive ergonomics plan, which includes lessons on how to sit and stand correctly when working to avoid strain or injury, and resources for employees concerned about mus- culoskeletal issues.

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