ARTICLES“WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE”
Appeared in Long Island Association magazine; written on behalf of a client.“It is more cost- effective to keep an employee healthy and happy rather than retrain a new employee,” reported Ann Wenrib M.A., Assistant Director of the Department of Professional and Public Health Education at North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System. Structured wellness programs also reduce absenteeism and employee stress, which benefits both employee health and corporate costs. In fact, according to the April 1993 issue of Compensation and Benefits Management, employees who participated in Johnson & Johnson’s “Live for Life” fitness program reduced the company ‘s hospital expenses by 34% by the end of its third year.
How are these positive results attained? What is corporate wellness?
A DEFINITIONWellness programs promote prevention and fitness through exercise and nutrition. Patricia Fay, Vice President Corporate Benefits at Fleet Bank headquarters in Providence, RI said the company’s “work- life “ program includes “benefits..... and programs that help employees stay healthy, overcome illnesses and meet their special needs”. The comprehensive program at Cablevision reflects the view of the company’s owners. Jim and Charles Dolan. view each employee “ as a whole person”, according to Gina Sussi R.N., Health & Wellness Manager at Cablevision. The result , she reported, is “ improved morale and productivity”.
Wellness programs often offer on-site mammographies and blood pressure testing. “Screenings”, for such things as cholesterol, skin cancer and vision “are often part of an overall organized pro-active approach” which can alert employees to see their own physician , according to Tom Delaney, V.P. of Sales, Vytra Health Care in Melville. And brown bag lunch-lectures, newsletters -- and even an intranet site at Cablevision-- educate employees on topics, such as stress and/or weight management, exercise and nutrition.”
EMPLOYEE FITNESS MAKES FISCAL SENSE
Blue Cross of Indiana received back $2.51 for every $1 spent on employee fitness program, reported Compensation & Benefits Management in its Spring 1993 issue. Here in Melville Director of Human Resources Ylisa Kunze at Reckson Associates revealed that employee participation in this company’s on-site fitness facilities promotes wellness and employee congeniality, and reduces stress. The commercial real estate developer/ management company has built health clubs in all their corporate facilities since 1979.
Two-hundred and six Cablevision employees in Bethpage have joined the company’s new fitness center which opened the third week in December. Offices at Fleet Bank on Long Island encourage physical fitness through its “ motivational challenges”, such as the self-guided “corporate strut walking program”.
CORPORATE WELLNESS AND WHOLISTIC HEALTH
Eugene Strickland, Director of External Affairs, the Wholistic Health Center at New York College (formerly the New Center College), pointed out that corporate wellness, focusing on prevention and fitness, and wholistic health both aim to treat the whole person. The corporation educates the individual with health information and provides diagnostic screenings; wholism, which believes in the interrelationship between the mind and body, uses alternative methods which similarly encourages the individual to participate in her own treatment, too. For example, complementary methods like bio-feedback train the participant to listen to her own body to detect stress, which aids in the wholistic healing process .Biofeedback--and other relaxation techniques-- have been proven to reduce the risk of stress- related disease.
Wholistic alternatives “can help heal the body”...and are “ effective for many ailments -- colds, lower back problems, and stress-related conditions like headaches, fatigue, emotional stress, asthma and insomnia, “ according to Barry Shapiro, Esq. , The health care regimen of Mr. Shapiro, who serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Wholistic Health Center, includes ammaTherapy treatments. This Oriental body- work technique was brought exclusively to the Center and its teaching affiliate, The New York College (formerly The New Center College), by its co-founder Tina Sohn. This method is based on the principles of Oriental Medicine. Skilled licensed professionals use their hands on specific points of the body to prevent and cure pain.
COMBINING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS
Paula Geonie, a certified personal fitness trainer and wellness counselor offers corporations, such as Vytra Health Care, on-site seminars that combine exercise and nutritional guidance. She has found that corporate employees who exercise, eat right and “learn to relax....achieve greater self-esteem and motivation.... which leads lead to feelings of empowerment”.. What is the benefit for the corporations? Employees are absent less and are more productive.
STRESS ROBS INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMPANIES THEY WORK FOR
The “Work-Wellness” Program of Ms. Weinrib’s department offers stress reduction programs to local corporations such as Avis, Kravet Fabric and Thomson Industries. These sessions teach participants how to identify stressors and time management techniques, and utilizes humor therapy. “Seeing comedy films or hearing jokes “ creates a lower resting heart, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the immune system”, just like exercise according to Gina Sussi, who also uses humor therapy at Cablevision.
CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY VITALITY
The maintenance and growth of our regional economy depends on the health of our business community. But individual businesses are only as strong as the people who work for them. Corporate wellness programs which integrate education, prevention and healing-- via traditional and alternative methods -- can achieve a dual goal. Productivity and corporate profits can result from employees that are energized healthy and vigorous, according to Mr. Strickland of the Wholistic Health Center. The vitality and sense of well- being attained through “corporate wellness” can become “community wellness”, too, as employees return home each night, not stressed and depleted, but invigorated and healthy.
"Beacons of Light"
Appeared in Long Island Business NewsAs principal of the architectural interior design firm, Spector Group (North Hills), Michael Harris Spector, FAIA, has been the driving force behind the design and creation of major Long Island projects, such as Computer Associates (NYSE, Islandia), EAB Plaza (Uniondale), and Long Island Savings Bank (Melville), as well as projects throughout the country and the world. But, this award-winning architect, who was named WLIW's 1997 "Man of the Year," is just as proud of his numerous philanthropic endeavors as he is of his professional achievements.
"The responsibility of life is to give back after you have been given," says Spector, whose actions support his beliefs. When physicians at North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset) saved his life, he became an associate trustee. When specialists at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (New York City) saved his grandchild's life, he designed the hospital's new pediatric intensive-cardio-care-unit. "Giving is exhilarating, " he said during a recent interview at his company's sleekly designed corporate offices in North Hills. There, on the shelves of a credenza, his commitment to the Long Island community is reflected by literally dozens of awards commemorating his volunteer activities to local non-profit groups. For ten years, he gave his time to the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center (Roslyn Heights) because of its commitment to families and young people.
An art collector of contemporary sculpture and paintings, Spector served for five years on the Board of Directors of the Nassau County Museum of Art (Roslyn) and has loaned pieces from his collection for exhibition, as well.
Spector insists that he is just giving back what was once given to him. He is grateful that the firm has had the opportunity to work with school districts throughout the Island in designing school buildings. His firm will also play host to eight aspiring architects and interior designers, as part of One to One: The Long Island Mentoring Partnerships' CAREER SHADOW WEEK program.
"(Schools) help educate and nurture the thousands of children on Long Island -- who are truly our future," he says. He remembers starting out his professional career with very little. He is more than happy to encourage young people to pursue their own vocational aspirations.
And what might he tell them about how to live their lives? "Allot time for family, work and community," he advices,adding that it is important to give to others who have less by giving not just money - but time - to community organizations that serve all people.