Employee Wellness

Program Proposal
By: Kyle Redo & Dr. Andy Koenigs
Wellness Committee 2014-2015
Emporia High School: Randy Wells and Curtis Simons
Emporia Middle School: Matt Baumwart
Food Services: Denise Kater
Logan Avenue: Ashley Brooks
Maynard Early Childhood Center: Keva Scheib
Riverside Elementary: Tracy Keough
Timmerman Elementary: Casey Phillips
Transportation: Tracy Posey
Custodial / Maintenance: Johnny Drake
Turning Point Academy: Ashley Conrade
Village Elementary: Hillary Carlson
Walnut Elementary: Manuel Estrada and Allison Harder
William Allen White Elementary: Brandi Maples
FHSEC: Monica Duncan
MHEC: Karen Flood, Paul Beadles & Vicki Schweinler
Wellness Committee Activities
● Met Once a Month
● Developed an All-Staff Needs Survey
● Researched Other Wellness Programs
● Researched Vital Components of Wellness Plans
● Learned about Healthy Nutritional Options each month
● Shared ideas from each building
● Provided Wellness Tips in Clipboard
● Made EHS Fitness Center more usable to staff
● Heard Presentations Several Wellness Companies
● Developed the Emporia Schools Wellness Plan
 General Information
- Scheduled to begin August 2015
- Program is COMPLETELY voluntary
- Open to all USD 253 employees
What is workplace wellness?
● Wellness is a state of physical, mental,
and emotional fitness.
● Some might call it Well-being.
● Employee wellness today often includes
physical well-being, mental well-being,
and financial well-being.
EMS Staff
Doing
Wellness
Activities
 Why Wellness?
Why are companies offering wellness programs now?
● Wellness is a “must have” rather than a “nice to have”.
● Crushing workers compensation and health care premiums,
● Proactive stance when it comes to the health of their employees.

Employee wellness programs provide a number of immediate benefits.

● Sends an important message to employees: We value your health and well-
being.
● This kind of personal message encourages productivity and helps retain top
talent.
● Functions as a unique and effective public relations tool.
● Can translate into a powerful competitive advantage.
Wellness Benefits to the
Company
- Lower health care cost
- Reduced absenteeism
- Achieved higher employee productivity
- Reduced injuries
- Improved employee morale and loyalty
- Reduced worker’s compensation and
disability-related costs
Research on Wellness Programs
● A 2011 study published by the American Journal of Health
Promotion demonstrated that health care costs rose at a 15
percent slower rate among wellness program participants when
employers consistently offered a wellness program to their
employees.
● A review of 72 studies published in the American Journal of
Health Promotion showed an average corporate wellness return
on investment (ROI) of $3.48 per $1 when considering health
care costs alone, $5.82 when examining absenteeism and $4.30
when both outcomes are considered.
Employee Wellness Program
Components
2015-16

T
H
E
M
E
Emporia Wellness Components
1. Biometric Screenings
2. Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
3. All District Health Fair - Sat. Sept. 19th
4. Challenges and Events
5. Free Well-Being Classes for Employees
a. Stress Management Classes
b. Healthy Cooking/Nutrition Classes
c. Financial Fitness
Components (Cont.)
6. Incentives
7. Local Business Discounts
8. Community Partnerships
9. Increased Use of School Facilities
10. Alternatives and Options
11. Regular Communication and Updates
via a Facebook Page
Emporia Public Schools Transportation Department
 Incentives are Critical
● Incentive programs are an important part
of any wellness program.
○ It raises awareness
○ It inspires action
○ It Increases employee engagement
○ Examples - Discount on health insurance
premium, extra vacation or personal day, t-
shirts, prizes, rewards, wrist bands, etc.
 Biometric Screenings
Biometric Screenings are a critical component for any wellness
program.
● Measure individual improvement
● Measure organizational improvement
● Helps locate areas to focus on district-wide
● Overall its an easy, trackable piece of data that administration can use
Components that make up Biometric screening are the following:
● Height
● Weight
● Blood Sugar
● Body Fat (BMI)
● Cholesterol
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
● The HRA a questionnaire of background,
family history, personal history, medical
info,and personal goals that determine a
person’s biological vs healthy age.
● This information is vital to help employees
focus on certain factors that might prolong
their lives.
Employee Health Fair
Saturday, September 19th from 10am to 2pm at EHS
Possible Booths, Vendors, and Community Resources:
● Local health clubs
● Financial fitness Counseling
● Stress management and Mental Health
● Lyon County Health Department
● Medical clinics and Newman Regional Hospital
● Flu shots may be offered
● Healthy cooking demonstrations
● Other community resources
● Biometrics screening will take place as well as health risk assessment.
Utilize School District Resources
Encourage more usage of what we
already have such as:
● EHS Fitness Room
● Walking Path between EHS & EMS
● Gyms
● Tracks
● Tennis Courts
● Jones Activity Center
Discounts at Local Businesses
Corporate Discounts or a standard percentage discount would be sought out
with area businesses for all employees participating the district wellness
program. The silicone wrist band would identify that employee as a wellness
plan participant.
● Gym/Health Club Discounts
● Emporia Rec
● Golf Courses
● Putt Putt
● Dynamic Discs
● Bowling Alley
● Nature’s Paradise
● Other Local Business
Gym/Health Club Partnerships
Build partnerships and discounts for
employees at local health clubs and gyms.
● Genesis
● Rec Center
● Emporia Fitness
● 24/7
● Heart Center Studio Yoga
Other Local Business Considerations
● Dan’s Hands, Celtic Massage & Essential Kneads
● GNC & Nature’s Paradise
● Brown’s Shoe Fit
● Hibbett Sports & High Gear
● Dynamic Discs
● Mike’s Sporting Goods
● Local Golf Courses
● Local Bike Shops
Emotional Well Being
● EMPAC is a resource that is already available to all
employees at no cost.
● This will be promoted as a district-provided
resource.
● Suggestions or tips on well being,mental health
issues or stress could be made through the
Facebook page.
● This may include stress management classes,
financial counseling, marital counseling, substance
abuse counseling, and personal counseling.
Offer Classes on Wellbeing
Stress Management
● This course would focus on helping individuals with developing healthy
stress management techniques
Financial Wellbeing
● This course would focus on helping individuals with developing a budget and
alleviating financial hardships
Smoking Cessation
● This class would provide steps, counseling, and support on how to stop
smoking to improve your health within the wellness program.
Classes Continued
Group Fitness Classes
● Zumba, yoga, aerobics, or boot camps could be taught by local gyms or school
employees who had an interest in teaching a class
Healthy Cooking/Nutrition
● This class would educate participants on eating healthy, making wise food choices,
recipes for healthy foods, etc.
Organized Approved Activities
● All activities, points and events are approved through the wellness committee.
Points may be given depending on intensity and duration of activity. Points may be
utilized toward an incentive program.

● District employees can earn points through approved activities either organized
through the buildings, district or community. Activities do not need to be local to
count, they would need to be sent to the wellness committee to approve and
promote to district employees.

● Buildings may organize group fitness activities such as Zumba, lunch walking
bunch, weight training, aerobics, etc. and promote throughout the district. There
will be a dedicated communication site/calendar on which all activities will be
listed.
Options/Alternatives
● Options for staff that can’t participate in some of the events will be
developed
● Any wellness plan will have alternative activities or opportunities for
staff unable to participate in an activity if this activity is required for an
employee incentive.
Regular Wellness Communication
Creation of a wellness facebook group for participating
employees.
This will be our main source of regular communication with wellness program
participants. It will be a closed group that only participants in program will
be able to see. The page will contain the following:
● General information about wellness program
● Upcoming district wellness events on calendar
● Healthy recipes
● Employee success stories
● Local coupons
● Fitness quotes
● Workout tips
Healthier Options for Staff
● The cookies, chocolate, and donuts would NOT be banned but healthier
options would made available to staff to make healthier choices

● Staff lounges and vending machines available at schools would offer

healthier options such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, protein bars,
Healthy crackers, yogurt, granola bars, oatmeal, bottled water, protein
shakes, etc.

● During PLC or other district meetings where snacks or food are available,
healthier options will be encouraged to give the employee choices
Healthier Options Continue..
Food service now offers chef salads for staff members and will deliver to each
school. Possibly look at creating a healthy lunch menu from food service with
two or three standard items to choose from for staff.

Example: Chef Salad or Turkey Wrap

We would like to see healthy lunch options offered

to staff daily
Wellness Program - Long Term Plan
Onsite Medical Clinic
An On-Site Medical Clinic could be located in our district at one of the schools so employees
and their families could access for health care. The clinic would be staffed by a RN, Nurse
practitioner, or physician's assistant who could prescribe medications . Most onsite clinics are
at no cost to employees because the district picks up the cost.

Personal wellness coach (online/phone/in person)

A personal wellness coach, much like a personal trainer or instructional coach, is a person
who helps support an individual’s wellness goals. Wellness coaches can be onsite coaches
where staff could make appointments and check in on their progress toward meeting their
goals. The coach is a support person but also helps keep employees accountable to their
goals. Some wellness coaches are available offsite and communication is via phone, online,
or through email.
Summary
● Starts in 2015-16
● Completely voluntary
● Goal is to increase employee engagement,
morale and overall health and wellness of our
employees
● It’s all about providing healthier options and
resources, not about banning anything.
● Uses the resources we already have in the
district and community
Questions?