Hartford Business Journal

26 Hartford Business Journal • September 21, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com CONNECTICUT'S HEALTHIEST EMPLOYERS 2020 1 st PLACE | CATEGORY: 2,501 TO 4,999 EMPLOYEES Gilbane builds on wellness expectations Gilbane Inc. Headquarters: Glastonbury Industry: Construction and real estate development Top Executive: Thomas F. Gilbane Jr. is chairman and CEO of Gilbane Inc. and chairman of Gilbane Building Co. in Glastonbury G ilbane Inc. is raising the bar for employees pursuing a broader approach to healthy living. "Wellness goes beyond physical fitness," said Michael McKelvy, CEO of Gilbane Building Co. "It is a holis- tic mindset." Over the last year, the company has expanded the number of activities employees and their spouses must complete in order to earn up to a 40% discount on their medical premiums. Historically, the company has only asked medically enrolled members to complete a biometric screening and nicotine-free attestation for the annual discount. But it recently added two "total well-being" re- quirements to the program, includ- ing getting a flu shot and attending a local volunteer event or webinar related to financial wellness. Despite the heightened expecta- tions, Gilbane said it maintained a 76% completion rate for the medical discount-related activities. Gilbane is also continuing to col- laborate with work-wellness vendor Virgin Pulse to offer employees and families a more comprehen- sive program throughout the year, opposed to a "check-the-box" ap- proach, company leaders said. 2 nd PLACE | CATEGORY: 2,501 TO 4,999 EMPLOYEES AmTrust updates well-being focus AmTrust Financial Headquarters: Southington Industry: Property and casualty insurance Top Executive: President Adam Karkowsky A mTrust Financial rebranded its well-being initiatives in 2020 to incorporate five key pillars for employees to achieve total health and happiness. Billed as AmWell, the program focuses on physical, mental, financial, social and community health. The property-casualty insurer provides a variety of resources, including veri- fied workouts, educational activities to support budgeting and financial health webinars, among others, for workers to meet those wellness goals. Since 2016, AmTrust leaders say the company has made consistent investments in employee well-being that have delivered a positive impact on employee healthcare costs. The company last year offset em- ployee premiums by more than $2.7 million, and in the past four years has invested in offsetting employee premium discounts by approxi- mately $13.8 million. "We all put in a lot of time and effort serving our agents, clients and part- ners," said Chaya Cooperberg, execu- tive vice president and chief people and communications officer. "We need to have the same commitment when it comes to ourselves." 3 rd PLACE | CATEGORY: 2,501 TO 4,999 EMPLOYEES AAA Northeast boosts diabetes care AAA Northeast CT Locations: West Hartford, Manchester, Cromwell, etc. Industry: Automotive services, insurance, banking, travel, hospitality inspections Top Executive: President and CEO John Galvin T he cornerstone of AAA Northeast's HealthWorks program is built on innova- tion and careful planning. "These efforts are derived directly from our club's values, such as 'we care about the health, safety and personal lifelong development of every employee' and that 'we are relationship builders,' " said David Himsey, senior vice president of hu- man resources. To meet those promises, one of its newest wellness programs supports employees and their enrolled depen- dents who are suffering from dia- betes. Those individuals living with either Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes are backed by several free testing materials, expert support and online reporting systems. The 118-year-old company said the "The Livongo for Diabetes" program has helped participants drop their A1C levels, which measure an indi- vidual's average blood glucose levels, from 7.7% to 7.4% in the first year. Meanwhile, more than 36% of participants on AAA Northeast's health plan living with diabetes have already enrolled in the program. That's a higher mark than Livongo's average book of business within the first year of implementation. 4 th PLACE | CATEGORY: 2,501 TO 4,999 EMPLOYEES Competition ups healthy living engagement for senior living outfit Benchmark Senior Living CT Locations: Middletown, South Windsor, Rocky Hill, etc. Industry: Assisted, independent living Top Executive: Chairman and CEO Tom Grape B enchmark Senior Living is eager to encourage em- ployees seeking a healthier lifestyle. The assisted, independent living provider, which operates 17 fa- cilities in Connecticut, is trying to accomplish that by increasing the number of employee health chal- lenges in 2020 to drive engagement in the "Virgin Pulse" program. From "Double Points Day," to "Nurses Week Challenges," competi- tive events continue to boost Bench- mark's annual participation rates in well-being programs. Its current level of performance, company lead- ers say, is why they are increasing quarterly cash incentive payouts. "I am proud that as an organiza- tion we provide our associates with the tools and resources to better their lives," said Vice President of Associate Experience Tim Reilly. "Healthy employees [physically, emotionally, financially] are able to more compassionately care for our customers and improve the human connection."

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