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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | M a r c h 2 0 2 0 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 37 FOCUS: HEALTH CARE Providing legal services for over 25 years Call 203-821-2000 or visit npmlaw.com New Haven | Har ord | Fairfield | White Plains NY Congratulates Gregory J. Pepe for his inclusion in Gregory J. Pepe, Founding Partner Local Business. Local Bank. Some relationships are just better. Call Paul Portnoy (203) 785-9148 milfordbank.com Member FDIC and seeing the dogs," she explains. "It just brings them happiness." At energy startup Budderfly in Shelton, Mary Ann Jacob brings her two golden retrievers, Calvin and Franklin, to work with her every day. e dogs are good- natured, so her boss mostly gives them free rein around the office. "If you're a dog lover, you know that having dogs around can be super comforting and can reduce stress," says Jacob, Budderfly's director of incentive management. Studies have shown that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Jacob says her co-workers seem to enjoy having the dogs around. ey've been known to lighten the mood during tense moments. "A dog will walk around with a ball in his mouth and drop it at someone's feet," she says. "If we're in a meeting and the dogs are there, they can just kind of lower the temperature if there's a stressful discussion going on." Culture shift Suzy Clausen, a licensed professional counselor and a health transformation consultant for global professional services firm Aon, says that while perks are great for attracting and retaining employees, they're not enough to keep a workplace emotionally healthy. Not every company can afford to provide perks like corporate massage — and not all employees feel comfortable taking time off to use them, Clausen notes. Oen, participation starts strong but dwindles. She says that's especially true if the services aren't embraced or being used by managers. "If it's in a setting where you're expected to work 60 hours a week but [you're told to] stop and get a massage, you might not see employees jumping in to use that," she says. Clausen says that changing a corporate culture to one that embraces emotional fitness "will have a much more lasting impact financially than just putting in place one or two perks." "It's about creating that sense of belonging," she explains. "Having that really good relationship among teams and with leadership is a great way to reduce stress, and it's something they can start implementing right away." At Griffin Hospital, emotional wellness is embedded in the hospital culture and has been for decades, says Diane Betkoski, the hospital's director of Planetree Services. (Planetree International is an organization that emphasizes patient-centered and compassionate health care. Griffin adopted the model in 1992 and is the organization's flagship hospital.) Caregivers are not only encouraged to take advantage of the healing therapies offered, such as reiki and so touch, but are trained to administer them to one another. On a recent visit, a pianist performed soothing music in the hospital lobby, aimed at creating a calm environment for patients and staff. Other conveniences, such as free dry cleaning and an on-site hair salon, aim to make busy lives a little less hectic, Betkoski said. For programs like the 20-minute chair massage, which is offered to departments on Monday aernoons on a rotating basis, managers are tasked with spreading the word and encouraging employees to sign up. "I keep a little list so once our department comes up I will rotate my staff so that everyone has a chance, and if you're not feeling up to it, that's okay. I can shuffle someone else in the slot," says Martinez, the central scheduling supervisor. She adds that her workers typically return from the sessions refreshed and "not so on-edge." "We deal with a lot of incoming phone calls that can push you a little bit," she says. "is definitely relaxes them." "I do try to get people to go," Martinez adds. "And of course, I put myself on the list, too." n

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