Health Links (HL): Why did your business decide become a Health Links Certified Healthy Business?
Vail Valley Jet Center (VVJC): The Vail Valley Jet Center recognizes that healthy employees are happier, more productive, and engaged in the organization. By partnering with Health Links and being a certified leader we get recognized by our stakeholders and the community we are committed to worksite wellness and safety. Our company’s mission is to provide unsurpassed quality service to our customers in safe and timely manner. To support our mission we have an extensive safety program in place that exceeds industry standards significantly.
HL: What benefits did the certification bring to your business?
VVJC: We enjoy the support Health Links provides through monthly webinar series that address important topics and the plethora of online resources in the Resource Center on the web.
HL: Has this certification changed the way your business thinks about wellness and safety?
VVJC: After attending a webinar on musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace it motivated us to move forward with an ergonomic evaluation of workstations and receive guidance on how to improve employee posture and workstations. In 2015, 71% of administrative staff opted to use a standing desk that is adjustable to allow standing or sitting.
HL: Has the Health Links certification or your wellness program affected your surrounding community?
VVJC: We are proud to display the Certified Leaders badge on our company intranet site and announce our accomplishment in our quarterly newsletter to customers.
Health Links (HL): Why is the health and wellness of your employees important to you?
Vail Valley Jet Center (VVJC): The Vail Valley Jet Center knows that healthy employees are happier, more productive, and engaged in the organization. We want to be proactive and prevent injuries caused by sprains and strains that lead to musculoskeletal disorders.
HL: Please describe your business’ workplace wellness activities/program.
VVJC: Our wellness program is structured to encourage employees to lead healthier lifestyles through biometrics screenings, health risk assessments, educating, and incentives. Throughout the year we have various fitness and / or nutrition challenges for all employees to participate and compete with each other. We offer a complimentary yoga class on site every week.
HL: How will you/do you know your program is successful?
VVJC: The Wellness Committee measures the success of the program through the results of the biometrics and HRA on an annual basis. We measure the percentage of participation, and collect data from employee interest surveys.
HL: What obstacles did you have to overcome to get your program started? How did you overcome them?
VVJC: We had and still have the obstacle of finding the right schedule that allows most employees to participate in the onsite fitness classes. Encouraging all members enrolled in the group medical insurance to participate in the annual biometrics and HRA.
HL: What tip/advice would you give to a business that is considering starting a workplace wellness program?
VVJC: Involve the employees from the start and measure their interest level in the program activities. So far we found the fitness/nutrition challenges to be fun and successful.