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SDBJ Event to Shine Spotlight on Companies’ Wellness Programs

SAN DIEGO’S HEALTHIEST COMPANIES AWARDS

Time, date and place: 4 to 7 p.m. May 16 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.

Sponsors: Kaiser Permanente, gold sponsor; Brainard Strategy, silver sponsor.

Event description: Networking reception and awards program to honor companies that demonstrate a commitment to strong workplace wellness programs and the creation of a company culture where health is a priority.

Intercare Insurance Solutions LLC of San Diego does more than just support a healthy workplace to show its dedication to corporate wellness. In addition to providing yoga classes, sports activities and a health and wellness room, the full-service brokerage and consulting firm continues to sponsor the San Diego’s Healthiest Companies awards events in conjunction with the San Diego Business Journal.

Now in its third year, the Healthiest Companies awards is continuing its tradition of honoring businesses that demonstrate a commitment to strong workplace wellness programs at its next event, set for 4 to 7 p.m. May 16 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. Awards will be presented in four categories: Small Companies, Medium Companies, Large Companies and Companies Headquartered Outside of San Diego. To nominate a company for an award, go to sdbj.com/bizevents/ by April 5.

Maggie Osburn, executive vice president of business development and marketing for Intercare, said Intercare identifies the top health risks within company populations to build awareness and enable behavioral change. For example, a company that identifies cardiovascular disease as one of its top risk factors can then provide employees with the tools, resources and programs that focus on improving employees’ health in that area and can potentially prevent heart attacks, avoiding the huge costs that come with such ailments. The same goes for obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

Osburn said the company believes that there’s a huge ripple effect when firms are focused on improving the health of their employees. The benefits come in the form of healthier people who aren’t as dependent on social services, more productive employees who are passionate about coming to work and making a difference, and an increased ability of companies to retain and recruit employees.

“What we are seeing is that health is a business strategy,” Osburn said. “We’re really having the executive at the most senior level understand the impact on the company and the value that health has on the bottom line.”

A Healthy Culture

Returning as a contender in this year’s Healthiest Companies competition is Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente, the 2011 winner in the Companies Headquartered Outside San Diego category.

Public Affairs Director Rodger Dougherty, co-chairman of Kaiser’s Healthy Workforce Committee, said the leadership involved in promoting a culture of health and well-being was a driving force behind winning a Healthiest Companies award last year. In addition to focusing on caring for its patients, the health maintenance organization consisting of 164,000 employees companywide offers multiple health programs for its more than 8,000 local staff plus 1,100 physicians.

These include a 30-day Get Fit Challenge, the Thrive Across America program in which participants take a virtual journey by tracking the number of minutes per day they exercise on a map, and KP Walk that aligns with a national walking program to encourage people to get a daily dose of exercise.

“We believe that the healthier the workforce is, the happier they are at work,” said Dougherty, adding that the company promotes its motto, “Be Well, Live Well and Thrive,” in a variety of forms. “We’ve seen this as we engage folks. They feel better, they’re happier at work, they’re more productive at work, and they have less sick days off … if they’re more physically active.”

Getting Leaner Pays Off

Also returning to compete in the Healthiest Companies awards is Sorrento Valley-based G.S. Levine Insurance Services, which took first place in the small-business category last year.

Wellness programs are nothing new to G.S. Levine, which began implementing its “Leaner” program with the tagline “Get Leaner” five years ago. The acronym stands for leadership, education, accountability, nutrition, exercise and reward.

“It all started with the simple premise that our employees matter and their health matters, and it’s been perfected to what it is today,” said President Ross Afsahi.

More than 95 percent of the 62 employees participate in the campaign, Afsahi said.

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