INDIANAPOLIS—August 31, 2009—Indianapolis-based benefits consulting firm Benefit Associates has been recognized as a Well Workplace by the Wellness Council of America. Honored in the small business category, the 12-year-old firm is one of 35 Well Workplace honorees for 2010, and one of only six certified firms with fewer than 50 employees.
“We constantly tell our clients that wellness is the key to improving the lives of employees and lowering benefit costs,” said Benefit Associates CEO Bryan K. Brenner. “This designation shows that we practice what we preach.”
A national wellness advocacy and resource organization, the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) each year certifies a handful of companies nationally as Well Workplaces based on their ability to meet certification standards and requirements.
“I’m excited about this certification because it brings strong credibility to our wellness programs,” said Brittany Rhea Luebke, Benefit Associates’ Health and Productivity Account Executive. “We invest heavily in our employees, and it’s nice to have the assurance that we’re doing the right things and making a difference in peoples’ lives.”
Benefit Associates’ wellness programs include annual health screenings, monthly lunch-and-learn sessions, a wellness resource library and financial support to employees pursuing their personal initiatives. The program also extends beyond health and wellness programs; recently the firm brought in a master gardener to talk to employees about planting gardens and growing flowers.
The Well Workplace designation is awarded to firms that submit to a multi-step assessment and application process, allowing themselves to be evaluated on seven key benchmarks: senior-level support; cohesive wellness teams; data-driven and results-oriented wellness initiatives; an annual wellness operating plan; a supportive environment; interventions and programs; and assessed outcomes.
This application process requires companies to assess their programs according to national benchmarks, develop and implement programs to address any shortcomings, and then re-evaluate programs and apply for consideration. The firm will have to resubmit their application every three years to maintain it.
“As our nation works to find the best way to provide health coverage to the greatest number of people, wellness will only increase in importance,” Brenner said. “We feel it’s important that we not only talk about wellness, but also serve as an example of how wellness programs can work in the real world.”
In July, Benefit Associates merged with Benefit Consultants to create a best-in-class resource for companies of all sizes. The merger brings Benefit Associates' focus on tailored employee benefit programs, communications, wellness strategies and internal marketing expertise to Benefit Consultants' specialization in design, implementation and compliance for health and welfare benefit plans.
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