“Healthy employees make for a healthy company,” said Chip Ross, wellness coordinator at Syngenta. “Research shows healthy employees are happier and more productive, and that translates into greater overall company performance.”
At Syngenta, employees have access to a comprehensive health-services program that includes:
- A qualified health-care staff who conducts free physical examinations, health screening and lab tests for employees, as well as counsels workers on health matters such as work-life balance, stress, weight management, nutrition and exercise.
- A Mobile Wellness Unit that travels to work sites to conduct free blood-pressure checks and cholesterol tests for employees and their spouses. In 2011, the Mobile Wellness Unit visited 77 locations in 28 states, screening 1,125 employees and 1,012 spouses.
- An incentive-based wellness program, called “Reaping Rewards,” that lets employees earn up to $250 in cash per year for following a variety of healthy behaviors. These include getting periodic physical exams, maintaining a healthy weight, wearing their seatbelt, using a gym membership and other healthy activities. In 2011, 69 percent of employees participated in Reaping Rewards.
Participants in Syngenta’s Reaping Rewards program also had fewer health-care costs than nonparticipants. In 2010, the difference amounted to more than $925 per person. “Bottom line: It pays to invest in employee health because the return on investment is priceless,” said Ross.
This is the second time since 2006 Syngenta has earned the Platinum Well Workplace Award, a distinction only 700 organizations have achieved. WELCOA defines a “well workplace” as an organization that fully embraces its responsibility for maximizing the health and well-being of its employees. Of its four designation levels, platinum represents the pinnacle of results-oriented worksite wellness programming. It is granted to organizations forging new ground by linking health promotion objectives to business outcomes.