Vermont employers honored for wellness efforts

COVID-19 has shifted the ways employers take care of their workers

Vermont Business Magazine With more people working from home during the pandemic and restrictions on in-person gatherings, keeping workers connected, positive and healthy can feel challenging. Vermont employers piloted innovative programs during the past year, from virtual group walks and mental health webinars to delivering healthy snacks to workers’ homes.

On April 8, to shine light on these efforts and encourage more employers to try the best practices, 71 Vermont employers will receive honors at a virtual Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness ceremony.

Hosted by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the state Department of Health, the event will showcase adaptions to employee wellness initiatives. Employers will highlight innovations in worksite wellness they will continue providing when the pandemic subsides.

One award winner, Heritage Family Credit Union, based in Rutland with nine branches statewide, expanded efforts to boost morale. Workers attend virtul craft fairs, game nights and friendly competitions, planned by fellow employees.

“Our wellness team has been a cornerstone of employee engagement during the pandemic. “At a time when there is a lot for people to worry about, the wellness team has given employees a break from the challenges we are all facing,” said Matt Levandowski, Heritage Family Credit Union CEO.

Supporting employees’ social and emotional wellbeing is vital, said Bethany Volino, Worksite Health and Wellness Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, an award-recipient. The Berlin-based health and wellness non-profit encourages staff to share photographs of their wellness activities and it partnered with a psychotherapist to host mental wellness webinars.

“We have focused on maintaining social connections among colleagues, challenging employees to incorporate regular exercise into every day, and providing mental wellness support to our employees during this difficult time,” Volino said. “This has created a wonderful spirit of community among coworkers despite everyone working remotely.”

The Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness was developed by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports more 20 years ago and presented in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) to employers across the state to create a standard of excellence for worksite wellness initiatives. These annual honors provide an opportunity for the governor and health commissioner to thank businesses and organizations for their efforts to support the health of Vermonters and make Vermont a great place to live and work.

The full list of employers receiving the 2021 Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness follows.

Source: Montpelier — 3.18.2021. Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports