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Corporate Programs/Case Study
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BACKGROUND:
Located in Taunton, MA, Farrell Backlund Insurance Agency LLC. [FB Insure] was
established in 1999 by the combination of Farrell Insurance Agency and R.E.
Backlund Insurance Agency, businesses started in the 1950’s. Aside from
combining years of experience and outstanding customer service, as a small
business, FB Insure committed to continue the longstanding tradition of taking care
of their employees.
PROBLEM:
As an Insurance Agency, FB Insure recognized the cost of risk; they advise clients to
minimize it wherever possible. FB Insure knew that there would be a positive return
for investing in employees’ wellbeing including decreased absenteeism, improved
morale, increased productivity, job satisfaction and retention.
In an effort to address the needs of a mature workforce and to “walk the talk”, Don
Backlund, CEO and Russ Martorana, President of FB Insure began a search for a
company that could provide wellness programming to their employees.
FB Insure sought a business that could provide nutrition and wellness counseling
to employees on an individual basis, and one who could augment these sessions
with group programs related to the material.
SOLUTION:
After examining alternatives and options, FB Insure selected EVOLUTION Bodywork
& Nutrition, [EVOLUTION] a comprehensive wellness company headquartered in
Bristol, RI.
EVOLUTION’s proposed solution was all encompassing: addressing the company’
s culture and wellness as a whole, yet creating individualized programs to meet
each employee’s needs and goals.
EVOLUTION’s experienced staff would provide support and counseling on both an
individual and group basis. In addition, weekly and monthly newsletters would
reinforce themes and targeted seminars would address specific topics. Regular
assessments and comprehensive aggregate reports would herald successes and
highlight areas for senior management and company principals to monitor
improvement.
IMPLEMENTATION:
EVOLUTION’s first step was to ask employees to complete a confidential Personal
Wellness Assessment. Screenings for Blood Glucose (Non-Fasting), Total
Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Body Composition were collected and analyzed
through an independent lab. Each employee/participant was encouraged to bring a
family member to the first interview with the Registered Dietitian, particularly if that
person was responsible for shopping or cooking.
The aggregate data from this survey shaped the wellness programming and
content that EVOLUTION tailored to hit all areas of concern, most importantly,
nutrition education.
For the first six months, participants met with a Registered Dietitian twice monthly.
This counseling was conducted on an individual basis, during business hours,
provided entirely by the employer. Employees were also invited to attend Cooking
Demonstrations, Taste Tests, and Grocery Store Tours. In subsequent months a
physical fitness component was added which included small group exercise and
stress management sessions and joint management of a pedometer program.
“We had high expectations for EVOLUTION Bodywork & Nutrition’s wellness
program and our expectations were met and exceeded from the content, support,
reporting and staff – in particular Emily Gedney, Evolution’s Nutrition
Director/Registered Dietitian” said Greg Arnold, Vice President of Finance and
Operations at FB Insure.
Management at FB Insure participates in the programs right alongside their
employees. Whether it’s learning new stretches or practicing good decision
making at a business lunch, modeling from the company’s principals is critical to
program success. Don Backlund, President says, “Jen Morin’s style is perfect for
our employee population. Like Emily, Jen obviously cares about her clients. Her
teaching methods are encouraging and motivating and she addresses our specific
questions. It can be intimidating to start a program but neither Jen nor Emily would
ever make anyone feel embarrassed or discouraged. They are exactly what we
need.”
RESULTS:
- The overwhelmingly positive response from employees was
unprecedented. After three months, participation remained at 100%, despite
anticipated attrition.
- Weight loss and high risk ranges decreased. At the completion of twelve
months of programming, employees had lost nearly 500 pounds and those
with total cholesterol results in the borderline and high risk ranges
decreased. This amount is remarkable because this was not a weight loss
program, but rather a wellness program.
- In less than eighteen months, significant improvements have been seen
across the board for FB Insure Employees: in body fat; cholesterol; blood
pressure; physical activity; smoking prevalence; systolic and diastolic blood
pressure; seat belt use; and overall physical health. Employees are more
educated and aware of their own health information and taking preventative
measures for themselves and their loved ones.
- Decrease in employee absenteeism. “One employee recently experienced a
family crisis - her son was diagnosed and hospitalized with diabetes. But
because of the education that Emily (EVOLUTION’s Registered Dietitian)
had provided to us over the course of our program, the mom was light years
ahead of where the hospital personnel expected and the child was released
several days earlier than anticipated because she was so prepared. The
benefit to that employee was peace of mind and confidence.” Said Greg
Arnold, V.P. of Finance & Operations, FB Insure.
- Increased sense of community and peer support. “What’s remarkable is the
shift in our habits” says Josie Lorina-Baker, Marketing Director at FB Insure.
“Walk into the kitchen and you will see people sitting around talking about a
recipe that they made for dinner last night. Open the fridge and count the
containers of hummus – no one knew what hummus was before Evolution
got here. My husband inspects the ingredients on a bag of bread because
he knows what to avoid. We all have healthy snacks stuffed in our desk
drawers.”
“We’ve been very happy with the results of EVOLUTION’s Employee Wellness
Programs,” says Russ Martorana, President, FB Insure. Successful results that
have lead Farrell Backlund to contract with EVOLUTION for a fourth term of an
additional six months.
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