Members of the Town of Bennington staff were in Burlington earlier this month being recognized by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport for Bennington’s workplace wellness initiatives. One of 99 businesses considered for the award, the Town touted its annual employee wellness challenge, staff awards for wellness and free flu shot clinics paid for by past wellness awards, along with other efforts. In the end the Town received the bronze award along with other businesses such as Johnson State College, Essex Town School District and the City of Burlington.
Tony Onorato, Water Department; Michele Johnson, Human Resources; Dan Cornell, Highway Department. Photo courtesy of the Town of Bennington.
“Beyond the obvious benefits, wellness and safety in an organization are directly linked to insurance rates, compensation claims and overall employee satisfaction. We, here at the Town, take great pride in our workplace environment," Bennington Town Manager Stuart Hurd said.
The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport was designed to promote wellness in the workplace and highlight those wellness programs that decrease absenteeism and employee turnover, while also lowering healthcare cost. According to the Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD, Vermont is regularly identified as the healthiest state in the nation. “Worksites that promote healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco use cessation… contribute to the overall health and wellness of all Vermonters, and they are one of the key reasons we are routinely rated the nation’s healthiest state,” he said.
Here in Bennington, the concept of encouraging a healthy workplace is nothing new. In 1995 the Town implemented a Total Quality Management philosophy designed to create long-term success based on continuous improvements in all aspects of the organization through progressive changes in attitudes, practices, structures, and systems. Those employees involved in the process became the catalyst for the creation of a number of continuous improvement teams. While not all of the original teams have stood the test of time, one team has continued to add value to the organization, nineteen years later. The Town-wide Safety and Wellness Team meets monthly to discuss safety and wellness concerns with in Town operations. Included in this team are members of the Town’s senior leadership, police, highway, water resources, recreation, and facilities departments.
“Beyond the obvious benefits, wellness and safety in an organization are directly linked to insurance rates, compensation claims and overall employee satisfaction. We, here at the Town, take great pride in our workplace environment. Because of this, we will continue to encourage our employees to use best practices when it comes to workplace safety and wellness,” Hurd said.
The Town of Bennington was first chartered in 1749, making it the first chartered community in the State of Vermont. Today, Bennington is home to a number of manufacturing businesses that specialize in the production of various composite compounds, earning the area the moniker Composites Valley. At the same time, the Town is nestled in the Green Mountain National Forest and sought after by outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Perhaps what makes Bennington so different from other locales across the country is its ability to hold onto the small-town America feel, which it has done by prioritizing smart growth development, preserving a nationally recognized downtown and charting the way for the use of renewable energy. Bennington truly is a place where everybody knows your name.
Source: Town of Bennington, April 14, 2014