LIHUE — Get Fit Kauai director Bev Brody is excited about Worksite Wellness Challenge 2016. She loves talking about it. She loves being involved in it. She’s believes in it because, she says, it changes lives. “People spend the most
LIHUE — Get Fit Kauai director Bev Brody is excited about Worksite Wellness Challenge 2016.
She loves talking about it. She loves being involved in it. She’s believes in it because, she says, it changes lives.
“People spend the most hours of their lives at work. If we help businesses, agencies have healthy practices at their work, more than likely those practices will be taken home and people will be healthier.”
“That’s the bottom line,” Brody said.
Fifteen businesses or agencies are registered for this year’s competition that aims to help employees become their healthiest and happiest through a variety of ways.
Starting with the official kickoff breakfast on Feb. 5 through October, each team will seek to improve upon their starting survey score — based on a point system in areas of general health environment, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use and stress management.
The survey includes 41 questions or statements, each worth a few points, with topics ranging from annual wellness program reviews, bike racks, on-site gardening, water coolers, policies on banning tobacco use and space where employees can practice yoga or meditate.
“Your company has written policy to offer meals that include healthy options in cafeteria settings,” is one question.
“Your company sponsors or organizes social events throughout the year,” is another.
“Senior leaders and upper management actively support worksite wellness,” is another.
The same questions will be answered at the end of challenge. The team with the largest scoring increase will take the title.
“You’re not competing against any other company but itself,” Brody said. “It’s all internal.”
The 2014 winner, Kauai Marriott Resort, is back to defend its title, and Syngenta, a close second in 2014, will be back, too.
The field also includes Kauai Community College, Kauai County, Wilcox Memorial Hospital, The Cliffs, Costco, the Grand Hyatt, Grove Farm, Ohana Home Health and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
More teams may be added. Those that registered after noon on Jan. 22 have been placed on a waiting list.
“It’s an incredibly diverse group,” Brody said. “This is going to be great.”
Each team will meet with a coach monthly to monitor progress, set goals, offer suggestions and make changes.
The top sponsor of the event, Kaiser Permanente, will be opening an office soon on Kauai. Joy Barua, Kaiser’s director of community benefits and health policy, said they wanted to be part of Worksite Wellness Challenge “in the spirit of promoting health in our community.”
“We believe that health happens everywhere,” he said. “It’s not about sick care, it’s about health care.”
Kaiser has been working at the state level on community health initiatives and supports efforts to make Kauai a walkable, bikeable island. That’s why it signed on to sponsor the Worksite Wellness Challenge.
“We thought it would be great to take the next step on how we can partner deeper and have greater impact on our community,” Barua said.
Healthier employees use few sick days and are more productive.
“Practicing good health is a responsibility,” Barua said.
Worksite Wellness is an excellent opportunity for employers to educate, empower and offer incentives for employees to lead a healthy lifestyle, he said. It offers some best practices and tools on how to promote health in the workplace. Sometimes, it’s easier than you might think.
“Something as creative as allowing employees a quick stretch break,” Barua said.
Or, an employer with many workers might want to connect with the YMCA about an employee plan for using its gym or pool.
Get Fit Kauai knows about living well. It earned national recognition last year when it received the National Physical Activity Plan Championship Award. It was one of three chosen out of about 2,500 entries.
Worksite Wellness Challenge is in its third year.
It’s an opportunity no business should pass up, no matter how big or small, Brody said.
She has seen the changes made because of it.
“The bottom line is, it’s really fun, it’s free, you can do it with friends and other businesses,” she said. “This brings our community together.”
