The Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (ISC-SHRM) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) today announced a new awards program that recognizes employers who champion the health of their employees and strive to create a work culture that promotes physical activity.
Called the WOWIES!, these awards honor Illinois-based organizations or companies that take a creative approach to inspire employees to make healthy, active choices during working hours.
Workplace wellness programs have been shown to be effective and contribute to a company's bottom line. According to Don R. Powell, PhD., president and CEO, American Institute of Preventive Medicine, Farmington Hills, Mich., employee wellness programs receive an average ROI of $3.48 to 1 due to reduced health care costs and $5.82 to 1 due to reduced absenteeism, making them worth considering.
Criteria for the awards were developed by a team of ISC-SHRM and BCBSIL wellness experts.
According to ISC-SHRM president John Jorgensen, to be recognized for a WOWIES! award, organizations must develop and implement a measurable, easy-to-follow program to achieve the recognition criteria. Initiatives must be ongoing and in place for 30 days prior to the date of submission.
The WOWIES Award program has Silver, Gold and Platinum categories.
The Silver award will be given to organizations that demonstrate a solid foundation for success.
The Gold award is given to select worksites/organizations that meet the Silver criteria, as well as organizations that develop comprehensive programs producing results. These programs are strategic and aligned with the organization's mission, vision and values.