Pee Dee Leaders Consider Employee Wellness Strategies

The American Heart Association encouraged top area executives to adopt an employee wellness initiative— Start! “walking at work” culture. Leadership from more than forty Pee Dee companies attended the CEO event on Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 am, at McLeod Health & Fitness Center to hear more about strategies to make their workplace healthier and more physically active. Rob Colones, 2009 Pee Dee Heart Walk Chair and President and CEO of McLeod Health, along with other Executive Team Leaders hosted the meeting.

Recently, Honda of South Carolina, Carolina’s Hospital System, and The ESAB Group, Inc. were recognized by the American Heart Association’s Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace. They have received the Gold level of the Fit Friendly Company Program. Adult Americans spend the majority of their waking hours at work, many in sedentary careers — amplifying the risk for medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Obesity alone costs American businesses $12.7 billion in medical expenses and $225.8 billion in health-related productivity losses per year.

Start! is a groundbreaking national movement from the American Heart Association. It calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. Start! recognizes and rewards companies for progressive leadership and for making the health and wellness of their staff a priority. Pee Dee area companies are invited to participate in Start! and demonstrate similar physical activity practices for their employees.

Adult Americans spend a majority of their waking hours at work, and many are in sedentary careers. This raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as overweight, high blood pressure and diabetes. Obesity alone costs American businesses $12.7 billion per year in medical expenses and $225.8 billion in health-related productivity losses . A program such as Start! that increases employees’ physical activity will improve their health — and their employers’ bottom line. Specifically, studies suggest that implementing a worksite physical activity program and promoting a culture of activity will help companies increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower turnover and reduce health Reduce healthcare costs.

To find out how the American Heart Association’s Start! program can help your company establish a walking at work program or become involved in the Pee Dee Heart Walk, visit www.americanheart.org/start or www.startpeedeesc.org.