Gov. Phil Scott, far right, with, from left, Rebecca Schubert, Community Health Team; Mark Levine, Vermont Health Commissioner; Anne Darrow, RN, CVMC Employee Health nurse; Rebecca Reed, CVMC physical therapist; Robert Patterson, CVMC's Vice President of Human Resources and Rehabilitation Services; and Monica Urquhart, RN, CVMC's manager of Employee Relations, Health and Wellness.
Vermont Business Magazine A capacity crowd of employers, business leaders, wellness experts and human resource professionals attended Vermont’s annual Worksite Wellness conference held March 23 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington. Governor Phil Scott, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, and Janet Franz, chair of the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, kicked off the sold-out conference, which features awards presented by the governor to 90 employers that have demonstrated excellence in worksite wellness.
SEE LIST OF AWARDEES BELOW
Affirming that “having the right attitude about your health is important,” Governor Scott expressed his appreciation to the attendees for their commitment to forward-thinking wellness policies that benefit employees and employers alike. "Your dedication to creating a culture of wellbeing makes Vermont a great place to live and work."
This year’s conference theme, “Wellness Without Borders” reflects the connection health and wellness have in all aspects of our lives. “Worksite wellness programs are integral to improving the health and wellbeing of Vermonters, and are a critical component of our 3-4-50 chronic disease initiative,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD.
“A majority of Vermonters spend half their waking hours on the job, which means that employers are key players in helping create a comprehensive approach to health,” said Dr. Levine. “We know that environments that promote physical activity, healthy food choices and tobacco cessation help to reduce chronic disease factors and support the mental and emotional health of employees.” Dr. Levine said the record number of conferees speaks to how employers understand that policies to help improve employee health also lead to financial benefits, reduced health care costs and absenteeism, and a more productive and engaged workforce.
Nearly 500 individuals and employers attended the conference awards and workshops. The event featured a keynote address by Eric Karpinski, corporate trainer and founder of The Science of Happiness program, about how happiness can improve engagement, innovation and work performance.
Ninety employers received Governor’s Excellence in Worksite Wellness Awards, and another nine were presented with Rising Star Awards. Awardees represented workplaces with a wide range in employee numbers, from the Springfield Area Parent Child Center to PC Construction Company. “Each of the employers have met a standard of excellence for worksite wellness programs,” said Janet Franz of the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. “Effective wellness programs take effort and commitment, and it’s important to acknowledge and thank these employers for promoting a healthy environment.”
Win Smith, principle owner and president of Sugarbush Resort, received the 2017 Vermont Wellness Leadership Award. Win was recognized for being a champion for healthy, active lifestyles among the resort’s employees and residents of the Mad River Valley. “Win sets a strong example for business leaders in sustaining a culture of wellbeing,” said Franz.
About the Worksite Wellness Conference
The annual Worksite Wellness Conference and workshops give Vermont employers and wellness professionals an opportunity to share ideas for inspiring and enabling employees to make healthy choices both on and off the job. Workshops dive deeper into a variety of subjects, such as physical activity and nutrition in the workplace, employee engagement, and stress reduction.
The conference is presented by the Vermont Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Vermont Department of Health, with co-sponsors BlueCross and BlueShield of Vermont, Cigna, Go! Vermont, Invest EAP, Northeast Delta Dental, Northwestern Medical Center, The Richards Group, and University of Vermont Medical Center.
Awardees
11-50 Employees
Trudell Consulting Engineers
Washington Electric Cooperative
VT League of Cities and Towns
Town of Killington
Springfield Area Parent Child Center
United Ways of Vermont
VSBIT
Hickok & Boardman Financial Planning
& HR Intelligence
51-150 Employees
Hallam-ICS
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
Chittenden Solid Waste District
Engelberth Construction, Inc.
Renewable NRG Systems
Vermont Federal Credit Union
WageWorks
Co-operative Insurance Companies
asicNorth
The Richards Group
Town of Colchester
Hickok & Boardman Insurance Group
Cathedral Square
Lund
Vermont Gas Systems, Inc.
City of St. Albans
Chroma Technology Corp
Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc.
151-500 Employees
Ben and Jerry’s - Vermont Manufacturing
GE Healthcare
Passumpsic Bank
United Counseling Service of Bennington
County, Inc.
Franklin County Home Health Agency
Marathon Health
MyWebGrocer
King Arthur Flour
Lamoille County Mental Health Services
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center
Lane Press
Heritage Family Credit Union
Sonnax Industries, Inc.
Vermont Precision Tools
Omya Inc.
The Vermont Country Store
World Learning
Hunger Mountain Cooperative, Inc
Mascoma Savings Bank
Carris Reels
BioTek Instruments Inc.
AN Deringer, Inc
Northfield Savings Bank
New Chapter, Inc.
Essex Town School District
Lake Champlain Chocolates
Champlain College
Copley Hospital
Hubbardton Forge
VSECU
Community Care Network
Northeast Kingdom Human Services, Inc.
City of Rutland
501-999 Employees
Burton
Porter Medical Center
UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS)
City of Burlington
Northwestern Counseling & Support Services, Inc.
Northwestern Medical Center
North Country Hospital
Health Care and Rehabilitation Services
Sugarbush Resort
The Brattleboro Retreat
1000+ Employees
National Life Group
State of VT
Central Vermont Medical Center
Howard Center
PC Construction Company
Keurig Green Mountain
University of Vermont Medical Center
MVP Health Care
University of Vermont
Rutland Regional Medical Center
Dealer.com/Cox Automotive
Governor’s Rising Stars in Worksite Wellness Awardees 2017 Vermont Wellness Leadership Award
1 - 10 Employees
Pride Center of Vermont
Creative Spirit Children’s Center
11 - 50 Employees
Central VT Council on Aging
51 - 150 Employees
DEW Construction Corp.
151 - 500 Employees
Hanover Consumer Cooperative
The EDGE Sports & Fitness
Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region
501 - 999 Employees
Washington County Mental Health Services
Green Mountain Power
Source: Health Dept 3.23.2017