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Robinson Engineering, Ltd. (REL) awarded the first Platinum Award by the Society for Human Resource Management and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for its employee wellness program achievements
Oakbrook Terrace, IL —August, 2010—Robinson Engineering, Ltd. was among seven Illinois companies honored with the first annual WOWie (Wellness In Our Workplace) Award for achievement in employee wellness. This marks the first ever platinum award given out. The WOWie award recognizes employers who champion the health of their employees and strive to create a work culture that promotes physical activity and wellness.
The award is sponsored by The Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (ISC-SHRM) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). REL was honored at the ISC-SHRM annual meeting in Oak Brook, Illinois on August 3, 2010.
The two application categories were based strictly on the number of employees (over or under 200). Awards were given in each of the following categories: Platinum, Gold and Silver, with Platinum being the highest honor.
ROBINSON’S award-winning Wellness Program provides a wide range of health information, services, contests, and activities that all seek to improve employee health. The program consists of:
- On-site annual health screenings & flu shots
- Walking clinics, charity walks & related activities
- Lunch and learns on health & nutrition topics
- Subsidizing health club memberships
- Healthy food choices at lunch meetings
- Healthy potluck meetings, “Fruit Fridays” & ”Healthy Snack Day”
- Pedometer challenges
- Biggest Loser & Biggest (BMI) Improver Competitions
- CPR/first aide classes
- Group activities such as ping pong, basketball, softball team, & employee competitions
- Monthly wellness topics (related information & resources posted on intranet; wellness bulletins boards in offices, and via e-mail)
Overall, REL has seen dramatic increases in participation and health results since the program began in 2007. The targeted ‘return on investment’ has been far exceeded, with REL seeing an ROI of 1000%.
According to Christopher J. King, PE, SE, REL’s president, “Ninety-nine percent of our employees participated in the health screenings in the program’s first year, and one hundred percent since.” The company believes this remarkable level of participation led to an overall 73% improvement in cholesterol levels among its workforce. “More importantly,” King said, “the commitment to employee health helped the company realize a 10 to 1 return on its investment in terms of improved employee productivity and reduced health care costs.”
“More and more employers and human resources professionals have come to realize that employee wellness programs are excellent ways to promote positive healthcare behaviors and create more productive employees,” said John Jorgensen, President of ISC-SHRM. “These companies have reduced health care costs, increased participation in their wellness programs and improved their employee’s health,” said Dieter Freer, Senior Vice President, Illinois Market Segments, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), “Truly, these winning companies have hit a grand slam in executing employee wellness programs.”
“Robinson Engineering continuously strives to find new and innovative ways to educate and support employees in living healthy lifestyles while staying true to our wellness program’s mission statement: to establish and maintain a supportive environment that encourages an energetic and healthy lifestyle.” Says Robinson Engineering Chairman & CEO Russ W. Prekwas, PE, “we appreciate the acknowledgement we are receiving for our efforts and find it a testament to the overall mission of prevention and maintaining health.”
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About Robinson Engineering, Ltd.: Serving the Chicago area since 1937, Robinson is a professional civil engineering firm specializing in municipal transportation, water and sewer systems, floodplain and storm water management, land surveying, geographic information systems, community mapping and construction layout, and inspection services. To learn more about Robinson, visit www.reltd.com or call (708) 331-6700. Company headquarters are located in South Holland, Illinois, with additional offices in Frankfort, Ottawa, Minooka and Bourbonnais, Illinois; and Merrillville, Indiana.
About ISC-SHRM: The Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (ISC-SHRM) is dedicated to serving the needs of SHRM chapters in Illinois. ISC-SHRM promotes professionalism in human resources and adds value to the SHRM membership. The ISC-SHRM Board is made up of volunteer representatives across Illinois who serve to advance the human resources profession. For more information, visit ISC-SHRM on the web at www.illinoisshrm.org.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois: With more than 7 million members, BCBSIL, a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. Started in 1936, BCBSIL is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and its communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSIL is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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