HOBOKEN, N.J. — Look no further than credit unions for the latest fitness craze.
Across the country, credit unions have issued a call for staff fitness via creative wellness programs.
The move makes sense considering a recent Watson Wyatt Staying@Work report, entitled "Building an Effective Health and Productivity Framework," found that companies with the most effective H&P programs have superior financial returns and productivity improvements. In addition, these companies are more likely to have lower program costs and incidence rates for short- and long-term disability and incidental sick pay programs compared with last year.
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In Greensboro, N.C., understanding the importance employee heath has on their success and satisfaction in the workplace, First Carolina Corporate Credit Union's wellness committee challenged staffers to lose weight, get fit and improve their well-being through two unique programs: First Carolina Corporate NetWALK and Lose David.
With NetWALK, staffers were challenged to "walk" to each corporate in the country and U.S. Central. Armed with First Carolina-provided pedometers to count their steps, some 28 staff members will walk a total of 9,241 miles–or 20.3 million steps–by September.
For the second challenge, several First Carolina employees have committed to collectively lose weight totaling President/CEO David Brehmer's body weight. Each week, the 14 staff members weigh in, along with Brehmer, to track their progress.
"We all know we should exercise more and eat better. But sometimes, an extra incentive or push is needed to get us going," said Brehmer. "In today's over-scheduled, on-the-go society, too many people are pushing health and fitness to the back burner."
According to Brehmer, the hope is that adding fun challenges and friendly competition to its wellness program will encourage more staffers to make healthy lifestyle choices. In addition to its weight loss and walking programs, the corporate has added a fruit bowl in the center of the office for staff to enjoy and included healthier snack selections in the vending machines.
INOVA Federal Credit Union, Elkhart, Ind., has also taken a proactive approach to creating a healthy environment for its staffers. Not only do employees learn how to "get fit while they sit" with exercises that can be performed right at their desks, but some employees have started their own incentive program with weekly weigh-ins or incorporating power walks into their lunch hours.
INOVA FCU also provides a series of educational brown bag lunch seminars, where employees earn ICUA credit for attending. In addition, soda and snack vending machines have been replaced with healthier options, such as granola bars and juice. Incentives are used whenever possible. For example, recently when the credit union was raising money for a charitable event, employees could enter a drawing to gain a day off by reaching $25 in donations and by walking at least five miles in one month.
Staffers who get the flu shot each year are rewarded with paid time off. Arrangements are even made to bring health professionals in to give the shot, during working hours, at the credit union.
At Coastal Federal Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C, employees are also making a real commitment to being more active.
"When we polled our employees about what was most important to them they wanted more access to medical screenings, more nutritional information and encouragement to be active," said Coastal Federal Credit Union Community/Corporate Relations Director Joe Mecca. "But one of the biggest components of our program was that there was an enrollment period, and we asked employees to sign a wellness commitment pledge."
He said it helps reinforce staffers' commitment to get moving. During the first enrollment period, 42% of employees opted into the program, which was developed with the help of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
"By making the pledge employees get access to lots of resources including the Blue Cross Web site where they can track their physical activity and get prizes along the way," said Mecca.
In addition, the credit union offers wellness credits of $100 per employee per year distributed quarterly to help reimburse a wellness-related expense, such as a weight management program or joining a sports league. There are also signs posted near stairwells reminding staffers of small steps can make big differences. And the CU promotes free health assessments, lunch and learn events, and days when employees are encouraged to take a 30 minute walk during lunch. Coastal FCU has also posted a wellness page on its intranet that provides the latest health and wellness news, helpful tips and links to such sites as realage.com and real stories from staffers on how they are getting fit.
"I've already seen a big difference in the use of our fitness center," said Mecca. "Since it opened in summer of 2005, we had some usage but it was never as busy as it is now and that is great. I'm expecting more employees to sign up in our next enrollment period. In the short term we just want to encourage everyone to be more active and eat better."
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