Employers recognize wellness benefits

Sheboygan County employers  credit health and wellness initiatives at the work site for providing organizational  and community  rewards.

Benefits include creating  a culture of healthy living, supporting individual  rewards, improving physical and mental health, increasing productivity,  reducing absenteeism,  improving cost savings on medical plans, aiding in recruitment and retention and improving economic growth.

The Sheboygan County Activity and Nutrition Coalition,  a committee of Healthy Sheboygan 2020, provides support for Sheboygan  County businesses  interested in developing  or enhancing a work site wellness program.

Support includes health resources, housed on the Healthy Sheboygan 2020 website at healthy sheboygancounty.org, including  local health and wellness resources as well as current activities, an annual work site wellness seminar providing employers the opportunity  to learn and network with local wellness experts  and business peers — the fourth annual seminar,  hosted by HSC2020, SCAN, Prevea Health, Aurora  Health Care and Sargento,  will be 7:30 a.m. until  noon April 26 at UWSheboygan,  breakfast is included and admission is complimentary; coordination  of a corporate countywide fitness competition  to promote and recognize “Employee Health and Fitness Day,” which this year’s competition  will be May 18.

Thecommitteehasalso made progress with the ambitious goal to achieve “Well County” designation  by Dec. 31, 2020. “Well County” designation requires  aminimumof20organizations  that collectively  employ at least 20 percent of the community’s  workforce to achieve “Well Workplace” certification  through the Wellness  Council of America.

In August, Sheboygan County reported a workforce  of 63,200 with employment  of 61,800. Sheboygan  “Well County” efforts  will minimally impact  approximately12,640 workers, equivalent to 20 percent of the workforce. To date,13 companies who collectively employ more than 20 percent of the workforce have pledged their commitment to obtaining  “Well Workplace” designation from WELCOA  in the next three years. To learn more about any of the worksite wellness resources available to Sheboygan County employers,  visit healthy sheboygancounty.org or email Jean.Pittner@sheboygancounty.com or Amy.Betke@sheboygan county.com Those interested in being a part of the Sheboygan  “Well County” process  should email Kelly .Boeldt@prevea.com.

Kelly Boeldt is the Prevea  Health partnership services coordinator, member of the SCAN Coalition  and the Sheboygan Well County Task Force.