Wellness in the Workplace – CDM
This is the first installment in a new series focusing on best practices in workplace wellness.
By Mari Ryan, Advancing Wellness
t Cambridge-based engineering and construction firm CDM, health and safety are part of the culture of the company. They started delivering worksite wellness programs in 2002, according to Benefits Specialist Kristen Ryder. The programs are available to the 700 employees in Cambridge and 4,600 CDM employees in their over 100 US locations.
The wellness program is called “Be Well” and receives strong support from members of the company’s management team, with their regular participation in many of the wellness programs and activities. The program management sponsor is Ken Page, the company’s Corporate Health and Safety Officer. The program has a Wellness Committee, made up of employees from different parts of the organizations who provide ideas and feedback and serve as champions for the program. “While we can easily serve the employees in Cambridge with on-site programs and services, it is harder for the employees in our 100+ offices. We are considering having wellness committees and champions in some of the larger offices,” said Kristen Ryder.
The program offers a variety of awareness/education and behavior change programs and also incorporates policies to support and encourage healthy lifestyles. The awareness and education programs consist of quarterly seminars, an intranet page with links to a variety of resources, a column in the company’s bi-weekly newsletter, a quarterly health newsletter, flu clinics and access to resources such as a Personal Health Assessment through their health provider. Screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and bone density are offered annually on-site in Cambridge and some other office locations. Behavior change programs include Weight Watchers at Work and in the future may include smoking cessation.
Creating a work environment that supports healthy choices supports participation in worksite wellness programs. CDM does this by providing an onsite fitness center and locker rooms. Yoga classes, which employees pay for, are also popular. At the company cafeteria, healthy choices are available every day. A look at the choices in the vending machines is planned for 2010. Improvements to the buildings stairwells are also in the works to help encourage employees to walk rather than use the elevator.
The wellness program is tightly integrated with CDM’s health benefits. Benefit design includes gym membership and Weight Watchers reimbursement and full coverage for health screenings.
One of the most popular activities of the wellness program is a three-month challenge called “Calories for a Cause.” Employees form teams and compete by tracking exercise points during June/July/August each year. The winning team is awarded $1,500 to donate to the charity of their choice.
In 2007, CDM was awarded a Silver “Well Workplace” Award by the Wellness Council of America. They continue to enhance the “Be Well” program to encourage healthy lifestyles for their employees.
Mari Ryan, CEO of Advancing Wellness, is a member of the CCC’s new Health Workplace Committee.
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