Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • September 16, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 25 CONNECTICUT'S HEALTHIEST EMPLOYERS 2019 1 st PLACE | CATEGORY: 5,000-PLUS EMPLOYEES Meredith Corp. champions physical and financial wellness By Wendy Pierman Mitzel Special to the Hartford Business Journal M eredith Corp.'s well- ness program, offered to 5,600 employees and over 1,200 family members, isn't just good for workers, it makes the com- pany healthier as a whole. "Meredith, along with most com- panies, has a significant annual medical spend and promoting healthy living is an impor- tant part of our strategy to man- aging the cost of our medical plan," said Tom Harty, company CEO and president. "But even more important, we want employees to enjoy life and feel their very best." According to Wellness Manager Stephanie Orscheln, 90 percent of employees participate in the com- pany's wellness program. "We believe it's important to offer the right program to the right per- son at the right time, and that can mean different things to different people," she said. "Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, partici- pants are given several options for completing the wellness program to meet them where they are." A large component of the pro- gram is a focus on physical wellness. Volunteer hours and participation in events can earn workers up to $725 annually toward health-club mem- berships, and even more for dietician counseling, group programs and events like road races. Employees can even have $240 a year to cover the costs of bicycle commuting. Because employees with three or more risk factors are twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times more likely to develop diabetes, re- ducing health risks is a top priority, Orscheln said. Enhanced wellness coaching is a key element in helping employees with multiple risk factors make significant change. Once employ- ees complete a wellness screening, they can identify and address any concerns. Meredith has seen results. Workers with high blood pressure saw a 50 percent reduction since launching the program, obesity is down by 11 percent and Meredith employ- ees have lost over 60,000 pounds in since 2007. Financial health is just as important to Meredith, which added education and programs like budgeting, setting and saving for long-term goals and understanding Meredith benefits. Employees over age 50 even receive a $500 lifetime benefit toward retire- ment planning with an advisor. Participants in Meredith's financial wellness program are 2.5 times as likely to improve their financial well- ness score compared to those who do not complete the program. Over 80 percent of employees complete at least one course annually. Orscheln said the financial well- being program has decreased the percentage of employees with high financial distress from 22 percent in 2010 to 8 percent in 2018. The percentage of employees liv- ing paycheck-to-paycheck has gone from 41 percent to 22 percent. Meredith Corporation CT Headquarters: Rocky Hill Industry: Media Marketing Top Executive: Tom Harty, CEO Meredith Corp. employees participate in the Eversource Hartford Marathon. 2 nd PLACE | CATEGORY: 5,000-PLUS EMPLOYEES Burns & McDonnell's wellness focus comes from the top Burns & McDonnell Industry: Engineering, architecture, and construction Top Executive: Ray Kowalik, Chairman and CEO Fast Fact: In 2018, Burns & McDonnell had the highest employee participation in its wellness incentive program. More than 78 percent of its employees completed the program, and over 85 percent engaged in it. L ast year, Burns & McDonnell chief executive Ray Kowalik teamed up with employees to set wellness goals for the year, a sign that concern for employee health comes straight from the top. Kowalik and the "wellness team" came up with the Fitness Device Bonus in- centive program, in which participating employees are given a fitness tracking device, and win points for physical activity. In addition to earning points for ex- ercising, Burns & McDonnell pays 100 percent of the costs for employees to join recreational league sports teams, hosts regular fitness challenges and has a wellness committee tasked with developing future programs. In addition to physical health, Burns & McDonnell offers employees ways to im- prove their mental and financial health through emotional health coaches, stress management classes and ongoing financial education opportunities led by in-house teams and others. 3 rd PLACE | CATEGORY: 5,000-PLUS EMPLOYEES Global company promotes all-around wellness CGI Technologies and Solutions Industry: Consulting Top Executive: Eric Saint-Jacques, CEO Fast Fact: CGI Technologies and Solutions tracks employees' wellbeing activity results through an internal tool, by collecting data including participation rates, completion rates and satisfaction. A t CGI Technologies and Solutions employees are offered oppor- tunities to stay on top of their physical, mental and financial health via the company's "Oxygen Team." The Oxygen Team is an award- winning wellness center backed by a global, special- ized and multi- disciplinary team. It's responsible for organizing and deploying wellness initiatives for the firm's employees in 72 countries. Events like CGI's annual Walk Around the World, in which the company's 77,000 employees are invited to participate in a 30-minute walk (at the same time, no matter the time zone) allow employees to participate in a healthy activity that doubles as a team-building exercise. CGI last year introduced to employees the SmartDollar online financial well- ness program, which 22 percent of the company's workforce enrolled in within six months of its launch. The company also offers subsidies for nutrition and weight-loss programs, and holds a num- ber of activities each May for Mental Health Awareness Month.

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