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Agencies challenge employees to live a healthier life

Since the beginning of his term, Obama has emphasized his commitment to improving health and welfare of federal employees. And it was not an empty promise.

The first family is already leading by example: The president is an avid runner and basketball, and first lady involved students Gardening From the White House to promote healthy eating. More recently, Michelle Obama oversaw the opening a Farmers Market in minutes from the White House and the Treasury and Veterans departments.As an employer, we are looking for ways to create a healthier workforce, because we know that if you are all happy and healthy and moving, coming to work and works very hard, "the first lady told clients on market the opening. "And because many private companies have shown, so the personal welfare of priorities can save costs of medical care highway and work harder. "

The President met the leaders of the industry in May to discuss strategies to improve the health of employees and led to the Office of Personnel Management to develop the welfare of best practices and plan of the federal workforce. In response, OPM announced the initiative this campus summer work and life, a joint effort with the Federal Reserve Board, the General Services Administration and the Department of the Interior. The four agencies, located within blocks of each other, develop and share facilities, including spaces and a cafeteria in good health.

The initiative is only one several demonstration projects that will take place nationwide. The campus concept allows organizations to experiment with cost-effective solutions to site healthy work and the collection of employee information.

"We work hand in hand during the next year to review and improve services and facilities available to more than 6,000 federal employees who make up the campus, "said OPM Director John Berry said in a statement announcing the program." By combining our efforts, we can more adequately and economically address the problems of welfare and satisfaction. "

The government has also asked agencies as part of the budget for fiscal year 2011 to take stock of their health and welfare programs. In a memorandum in June, Office of Administration and Budget Director, Peter R. Orszag requires all organizations to catalog their continued efforts to establish a basis for bidding OPM and help develop a comprehensive program. The goal is to have 75 percent of employees participating in health initiatives and welfare 2010.

Agency leaders will be essential for success of this effort. To set the tone and promote healthy competition, Orszag recently challenged OMB pedometer. Employees can record their steps and other health information on an internal Web site where they can see how they compare the director and their colleagues in other divisions of OMB. Each month, the employee will be treated to lunch than the principal and Divisions with the highest average steps and the most improved average receive a "healthy happy hour" of vegetables and red wine. In practice, preach, the Obama and other government officials to reinforce the idea that a healthy workplace is a happy one.

A Sound Investment

site wellness programs has shown be beneficial to the health of workers and employers laptops. 50 In a review in 2008 of welfare interventions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Task Force on Community Preventive Services found that health programs office of smoking and reducing consumption of fat, blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels and increased productivity. The work to develop a guide to help communities adapt to their own health programs and policies.

Many companies private sector investment in such initiatives. A 2009 survey by Watson Wyatt and the National Business Council Health Group found nearly 80 percent of large employers offer health risk assessments, 60 percent had programs to improve the lives and 52 percent had programs to control weight.

Aetna, a provider health services, has developed a general wellness initiative to maintain their own medical costs down. The program begins with an assessment of health risks, that allows employees to get physical and learn their body mass index, cholesterol and other vital issues. Employees can then participate in the Wellness Works, an initiative based incentives in the gym, which assigns points for the activity and natural healthy food choices, and earn up to $ 600 per year in salary or bonus. Almost 60 percent of employees through Aetna to participate in the national program, many, including its president, Mark Bertolini, participate in fitness challenges of competitive team. Several sites also Aetna fitness centers with extended hours and a variety of cardio and strength classes.

Wellness Works is a model around which Aetna may designing programs for their clients. "We are able to demonstrate to potential customers that there is an advantage of this," said Fred Laberge, a spokesman for the company. Aetna annual increase in medical costs is about half the national average of 8 percent to 9 percent per employee.

The goals of reducing medical costs and healthier, more productive employees also stimulate investment in Dell Corp. welfare initiatives, "said Tre McCalister, senior director of services global. Society Technology offers fitness centers, gym discounts local coffee and healthy options ©. In 2004, Dell pitched well in a health program features Customizable improved performance based incentives and effective monitoring of nutrition programs, your management training for smoking cessation, weight and stress, and physical conditions and access to a nurse line. Dell also offers monthly seminars such topics as cancer prevention, travel and fitness "deskercise." Well Dell has increased employee health and productivity and significantly reduce medical costs made since his debut last five years, according to McCalister.

Federal agencies have also targeted health workers with a series of initiatives that the administration of a advantage as it develops a strategy for all government welfare.

Options and more options

fitness centers and exercise classes are now common among organisms especially in areas with high concentrations of federal employees. Many hours of supply of basic equipment, aerobics classes and extended hours to accommodate work.

For example, in the context of a lifestyle and a health program that began in 1978, the CDC has a professional staff in its six campus gyms large and small gyms in the satellite offices. These schools offer courses ranging from Pilates, tai chi and yoga to rotate the body and sculpture classes. Employees also have access softball, basketball and volleyball and hiking trails is measured.

Program fees vary. CDC appropriates funds for facilities and classes in order to provide for free. Environmental Protection Agency, which has fitness centers at its headquarters in Washington and all offices regional subsidized memberships. Federal employees near San Francisco may join a gym where rates vary by pay grade, from $ 85 to GS-6 and below, and reach 210 years, annual for GS-14 and higher. Some organizations, including the State Department, is associated with health clubs to provide reduced rates for membership. Fifteen gyms in the Washington area offer this type of agreements to state employees and participation ranges from three to 40 people according to the club.

If gyms are not profitable, agencies have developed innovative alternatives. Agency Defense Contract Management program offers a virtual gym employees can telephone access, Internet and email. The components include planning and training tools, weight control, attendance records, evaluations risk, a development program, fitness center reimbursement.

To promote physical activity, some agencies allow employees to visit the fitness center working hours. CDC employees can negotiate flexible hours with supervisors. The agents of the military Guard and secret of law enforcement are entitled to three hours per week physical activity and DCMA employees can use the time to fulfill the duty.

Although fitness is a key employee welfare agencies also generally developing the services and programs to address other aspects of health such as nutrition, stress relief and access to green space.

The Ministry of Interior is the revitalization of its headquarters, which includes a new cafeteria. "We have a variety of foods at a low price range – especially organic nutritious food from local sources – and we will work to ensure that the facility! "Says Rhea Suh, Deputy Secretary Policy, Management and Budget. "The initiative of campus life and work is also part of broader efforts by the federal government in the choice of healthy foods and reduce the footprint Carbon federal facilities. "

The Agriculture Department has made progress towards a greener workplace with the people inaugural Garden, a project to transform the pavement in the grass, planting trees and promoting efficiency. The aim is to create gardens similar to the USDA facilities in the world.

CDC hosts employee mobility farmers market on campus and encouraged to carry only healthy foods at meetings. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, offers a meditation group with approximately 70 participants per month, as well as chair massage appointments and holistic lunch seminars nutrition. And in July, the state has carried out a six-month trial the provision of 10 bicycles to its headquarters in Washington to consult with employees during the hours. Officials said more employees than expected took advantage of the program execution and, often between buildings in a suit and loafers.

Sensitization

Part of the challenge of promoting a healthier workforce is employees aware of their bad habits and encourage them to change their behavior. To create a culture of social welfare agencies to reach employees through educational activities. A number of clinics offering health services on site, allowing employees to minimize the time and resources devoted to basic research and care to learn more on prevention and treatment of diseases.

Office State Department of Health Services coordinates a health program for domestic and foreign offices. Employees can participate in programs to stop smoking and cancer breast cancer support groups and bereavement. The office organizes monthly programs on topics such as travel medicine, meditation and arthritis, the publication of videos of the sessions department's intranet. The office also offers health fairs, one day in Washington with yoga classes and health screenings. It supports the care and early detection health and programs for employees assigned abroad as well.

Other agencies offer health classes, exams and free immunizations for employees. The Securities and Exchange Commission organizes seminars on nutrition and osteoporosis checks, and the CDC organizes first aid, CPR courses and ergonomics.

A series of special events throughout government intends to increase interest in health and fitness. EPA holds an annual "Walk to Wellness," a case was two miles in the Washington area. The agency plans to sponsor the walk quarterly and extend to other regions. In the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement of Law Training Center is sponsoring a contest for weight loss among their offices, on the basis of larger television programs loser, and Customs and Border is organizing a "challenge HealthierCBP fitness.

In autumn 2008 the State Office of Medical / Health Promotion has organized a series of four free one-hour nutrition and cooking seminars. The sessions, held during the luncheon organized by the Cancer Project, a prevention cancer nonprofit and health promotion, focused on the integration of low-fat, fiber, alternatives to dairy products and antioxidants in food. Employees involved discussions on nutrition, was a cooking demonstration and tasting healthy dishes.

Recently, FedsGetFit OPM launched a campaign on the welfare of fitness, nutrition, healthy choices and prevention. The first event will be an exhibition of delivery is October 27, where leaders will join the Agency members of Congress and the football players in the league to promote programs of work and involving life and walk a mile.

In the implementation of new initiatives and current growth, organizations face funding problems. programs Work and life get money directly from the budgets of the Agency, but the agencies have made changes to the commitments of these initiatives. In the private sector, best practices suggest that the general welfare programs cost $ 500 to $ 800 per employee per year.

As you determine the best locations for investment, agencies are seeking information and ideas of employees at all levels. "Not every idea is that you decide to put into practice," said Mike Weber, an official the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Materials and security guarantees. "But [the tension between competing ideas Help] channel enthusiasm."

In July, the OPM describes the elements agencies should include in their wellness programs. designated focal points will report on the health of the Agency and welfare programs, services, costs and participation through a line WellCheck system. The aim is to bring the bodies to the rules in July, while allows flexibility to adjust their bids according to the needs of employees. Many programs are administered by Human Resources staff and Berry OPM chairs the monthly meetings with the heads of human capital of the Council to facilitate communication and interagency initiatives.

According to Wesley Carpenter of the EPA's Office of Administration and Resource Management, the share of government health employees is an important marketing tool. "The [OPM initiative] was a catalyst and an excellent opportunity to extend our tentacles and reach more people, "he said.

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