County named healthy employer
WAYNESBURG – The County of Greene was recently named as one of the healthiest employers in Western Pennsylvania by Pittsburgh Business Times.
A total of 47 employers were selected from across the region and broken down into five categories based upon number of employees. The five categories ranged from employers with under 100 employees to those with more than 5,000 employees. With 345 employees, the County placed 11th out of 15 in the category for employers with 100 to 499 employees.
One overall winner was chosen from each of the five categories, and all employers were recognized during an expo and luncheon June 5 in Pittsburgh. The full list was also published as a supplement to the June 6 issue of the business newspaper.
Among the factors contributing to the county’s selection was the employee wellness program, administered by Highmark, that rewards employees with points and other incentives as they work toward individual health goals. Programs offered regularly include health lectures and cooking classes, biometric screenings, employee blood drives, a weight-loss competition, group lunchtime walks, and courses in aerobics, fitness and self-defense.
“The most important result from the wellness program is the excitement, involvement and increase in employee morale,” said Rebecca Harris, county human resources director. “Participation numbers are increasing every year. Over the past two years, there have also been significant credits on the county’s health insurance premium renewals that were directly attributed to the wellness program.”
The winners of the “Healthiest Employers of Western Pennsylvania” were selected based on scores determined by a survey of each company’s wellness program, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times. Participants were asked about the scope, staff involvement, results and upper-level management support for health and wellness efforts. The survey was conducted by Healthiest Employers LLC of Indianapolis.
For more information on the “Healthiest Employers of Western Pennsylvania,” visit www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh.