Each February, thousands of people from across the world come to Birmingham to participate in the Mercedes Marathon and Half-Marathon. Many people enter the races just for the medal — a heavy metal replica of the company’s famous hood ornament.
When a group of walkers from the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH) crossed the finish line this year, however, it took home much more than a medal. The group gained a sense of accomplishment and realized just how much the ABCH’s wellness program is changing lives for the better one step at a time.
Now in its second year, the wellness program has brought a culture of health to the entire organization, according to Executive Director Paul Miller. “The program has impacted everyone. We have many more people who are working toward better health,” he said.
Ted Embry, area director of the ABCH’s northeast Alabama region, participates in the program, as do many of the region’s staff members. He has seen employees celebrate successes and lament setbacks but believes the ultimate success occurs when individuals make their health a priority.
“Once you take control of your own wellness, there’s an immediate sense of confidence and self-assurance,” Embry said. “Not only does it impact your work but it has a positive impact on your life outside of work.”
Anne Lawton agreed. For Lawton, intake coordinator and licensed professional counselor with ABCH’s Pathways Professional Counseling, finishing the half-marathon was not only an individual accomplishment but also a milestone in her relationship with her co-workers.
“Our friendships have been developed through our training and seeing each other outside the typical 8 to 5 hours,” she said.
Throughout the organization, employees have seen tangible results from participating in the wellness program, including weight loss and less need for certain medications. Even more significant, however, is that those who participate simply feel better as they make healthier choices, Miller said.
Both administrators and staff credit accountability and encouragement as key components of the program’s success.
At the beginning of the year, employees are encouraged to plan a personal wellness program for the year. As activities are completed, the employee can be reimbursed for certain expenses, such as gym memberships, running shoes and race entry fees, up to an individual limit. In order to be reimbursed, documentation must be provided that the employee is following his or her plan.
“An employee must have something to show they attended a class or participated in a race — some proof of completion,” said Sue Thompson, an administrative assistant for human resources who handles wellness claims.
The program has also provided employees with opportunities to learn more about healthy diet and exercise choices from experts in those areas, and they strive to put what they learn into practice.
“For example, if we are planning an activity where food is going to be served, we try to avoid serving just sugary things and provide healthier choices,” Miller said. “We’re not trying to beat anyone over the head, but in all that we do, we want to encourage them.”
While Miller does not believe a price can be placed on health, insurance premiums for the ABCH have defied the typical expectations, holding steady in the prior two years and going down last year. “Our rates are based on claim records, and this past year when our renewal came, we had an 8.79 percent decrease in insurance premiums,” he said.
While he noted that “financial reasons are not justification for having a wellness program,” savings on insurance premiums have more than offset the expenses of the program.
It is not unusual for companies to see this kind of impact when a wellness program is promoted, said Mary Beth Mann, wellness enhancement analyst for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, which is the health care provider for ABCH staff. Worksite wellness programs help employees make better lifestyle choices, she said, which positively impacts the organization’s bottom line.
“Healthier employees mean increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and lower health care costs over time,” Mann said. “Since the greatest asset to a company is its people, making a minimal investment in employee health is a win-win situation that adds a tremendous amount of value to the organization.”
Miller and his staff also believe that by being good stewards of their physical bodies, they are better able to minister to others.
“We give a lot to families and children in the community, and we’re not going to be able to do that as well if we don’t take care of ourselves,” Lawton said.
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