National MarketingWellness Your Way is an incentives-based program that rewards team members for taking an active role in their health and well-being with a lower participating rate for 2023 medical premiums and opportunities to win cash prizes along the way. Rick Graton and Brieanna Sterne of Human Resources oversee this initiative and the firm’s relationship with our wellness partner, Asset Health. As we approach midyear, they want to ensure everyone understands the benefits of the program and how to lock in the discount for 2023.
Why does Transwestern place so much value in employee wellness?
Rick: One of the reasons Transwestern is consistently named a “best place to work” in markets across the country is our commitment to the health and wellness of team members and their families. A successful wellness program needs to focus on more than just the physical aspect, and our holistic approach also encompasses emotional, social and financial wellness. It has been proven time and again that individuals with good health tend to be happier employees with higher levels of productivity. Therefore, our goal is to provide team members with abundant wellness resources and empower them to be the best version of themselves for their families, colleagues, clients and community.
Tell us more about the Wellness Your Way program.
Brieanna: The idea behind the program is that team members have more choice about when and how they earn point toward their wellness participation credit. It serves as an introduction to outcomes-based healthcare by encouraging team members to take responsibility for their own health by offering opportunities to target health conditions they want to improve. Afterall, wellness should be on your terms. Team members who earn at least 500 points by November 30 (the end of Transwestern’s open enrollment period) later this year will secure a reduced medical premium in 2023.
A combined 300 points must be earned by completing two required activities: a biometric screening and health risk assessment. An additional 200 points can be collected by participating in a variety of challenges and online courses, or by tracking your daily nutritional and physical activity. To encourage continued participation, the 2023 annual wellness credit has increased by more than 30%!
How are team members responding to the Wellness Your Way program?
Rick: We accomplish more when we work together, and this extends to wellness. Each market has a designated wellness ambassador who curates interactive, group programming specific to their local team members’ interests. For instance:
Joyce Washington in Atlanta shares that friendly competition brings the team together in the spirit of wellness – and in some instances, philanthropy. For example, the office held an Olympics-inspired challenge in honor of our national philanthropic partner, Make-A-Wish, where team members competed in a series of physical activities. Other activities have included a hydration challenge – all sodas are removed from the office and team members are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles – and circuit trainings led by a fellow team member.
Alexandra Thomas and Candice Gibson know that the Dallas team enjoys group activities and the camaraderie that comes with it. The co-wellness ambassadors find that their team members are receptive to bold graphics and bright colors, so they develop promotional materials in that vein to generate awareness around their initiatives. Events that bring the Dallas team together span brown bag healthy lunches, lunch and learns focused on Asset Health resources, and an office-wise field day where employees and spouses take a half day to compete in a series of fun activities and enjoy healthy snacks.
We enjoy participating in the activities but forget to track our points. Do you have any tips?
Brieanna: We send regular communications but understand that day-to-day schedules can get hectic. However, keeping track of points in the Asset Health portal is the only way to ensure you secure the lower participating rate. Here are a few tips that other team members have found helpful:
- Set up a daily calendar reminder – all you need is five minutes a day – to track your points
- If you haven’t yet, download the Asset Health Mobile app (available on Apple or Google Play) so that you can track your points anywhere, anytime
- While it’s top of mind, track your points as soon as you complete a challenge or activity
New ideas for wellness programming are always welcome! If you have an idea for an event, please reach out to your local Wellness Ambassador:
- Anaheim: Lysa Horan
- Atlanta: Joyce Washington
- Austin: Callie Smith
- Chicago: Mallory Martin, Tonji Turner
- Dallas: Alexandra Thomas, Candice Gibson
- Greenwood Village: Rene Wineland
- Houston: Amanda Ramirez, Audrey Schulz, Becky Burns, Elise Pantazis, Kaitlyn Harp
- Miami: Kat Jubuisson, Paris Allen
- New York: Stephanie Pagan, Julynne Holder
- Rosemont: Sandy Morgan
- San Antonio: Carolyn Guerrero, Kimberly Monk
