Contribution #6-Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs

The topic of EAP’s in Chapter 10 made me think about the specific wellness programs that are offered at my current job at the Packers Pro Shop. The main initiative they have had since I began working there was Packers Pulse. The Packers organization has had players and staff that have passed away at a young age because of issues that may have been preventable. The big issue they are trying to tackle is obesity and having the correct balance of a healthy diet and physical exercise. Packer Pulse is an all-organizational program that promotes both of these crucial elements of living a healthy lifestyle. As we also learned in our trip to Lambeau Field with HR, they mentioned the walks around the stadium to get a half hour of exercise in each day. Healthy employees mean more time spent in the office which leads to higher retention for the organization. Another thing they have is a competition that combines eating the correct foods, eliminating the bad foods, and a dose of exercise each day as a team where you compete against other teams for prizes over a span of 6 months. Lastly, another benefit they give you in terms of wellness is that the Packers sponsor one or two teams for the Bellin Health Run that is offered as an incentive to get out and get fit. The Packers also are pioneering the efforts against certain cancers and health-related issues by posting health facts by the employee elevators for staff to see. Offering these wellness programs is a low-cost way to provide healthy incentives and awareness about potentially life-threatening medical issues. This allows the HR department to prevent high turnover in terms of health conditions and it boosts the morale of employees when they can exercise and eat right.