Governor's Council Awards Program

Sharing Best Practices

1-25 Employees

Barre Partnership's Golden Shoes promotion inspires downtown employees and citizens to walk downtown.

Barre Parnership/Downtown Barre
Barre Partnership collaborated with Vermont Department of Health and Central Vermont Medical Center to kicked off "Golden Shoes," a community-wide initiative that encouraged downtown employees and citizens to walk. Each day in May, old shoes painted gold were hidden around city landmarks and local businesses. Walkers who found a golden shoe could turn it in for a free pair of sneakers, water bottle and pedometer. The promotion gave away 65 pairs of sneakers and inspired people to work walking into their daily regimen. St. Johnsbury's downtown association was so inspired by Barre's program that they plan to roll it out in their region.

City of Newport
Newport city employees may use flex time to participate in onsite stretching, floor exercise or walking programs, and the city has purchased equipment including medicine balls, stability balls and therapy bands for employees' use. The city also provides financial scholarships to pay for health and fitness classes held in the community. Walking meetings are common, and city leaders are physically fit and active.

Freely Creative, Inc., Stowe
All full time employees receive a compensation package that includes an $800 annual allowance to use toward physical fitness activities, such as ski passes, tennis league or gym memberships. Employees also may use flextime to participate in fitness activities and attend health care appointments. A shower is available for people who exercise mid-day. Company owners engage in fitness activities on their own and with employees. Employees are invited to join in a weekly tennis league, go skiing, hike after work and run together.

Stark Mountain Woodworking, New Haven

Stark Mountain Woodworking rewards employees who commute to work by bicycle throughout the year with money toward the purchase of a bicycle, along with the gift of good health.

In 2006 Stark Mountain offered all 12 employees $500 each towards the purchase of a bicycle, with the stipulation they ride 650 miles to and from work during the year. An additional bonus of $500 was awarded to each person completing the 650 miles, and those who took the challenge but failed to complete 650 miles were to repay $1 per mile not cycled to an employee fund. Eleven employees (including the two owners) participated in the challenge and each cycled 650 miles or more. For year two, the mileage increases to 750 and completion bonus to $750. Stark Mountain's lunchroom features a fully equipped kitchen and guest chefs often cook nutritious meals for employees.

26-75 Employees

Cathedral Square Corporation, Burlington
This nonprofit organization develops and manages housing throughout Vermont for special needs populations. It implemented a health and wellness initiative in 2006. Each month employees participate in free classes in healthy living such as yoga, ingredient & label reading and walking for exercise. A corporate membership discount at a local health club is also available to employees.

Milton CAT employees do a daily morning stretch routine.

Milton CAT, Richmond
At the start of each workday, employees of this Caterpillar equipment dealer do a 10-minute stretch routine led by their supervisors. An annual Health Risk Assessment checks employees' blood pressure and body composition. Wellness Coaches, USA, provides weekly confidential health counseling. Last year the Milton CAT corporate office launched a "Biggest Loser" contest among its 12 sites to encourage healthy weight loss. The Richmond site winner lost 50 pounds.

Richford Health Center, Inc. d/b/a Northern Tier Center for Health (NOTCH), Richford
Employees of this non-profit center, which provides medical, dental and behavioral health care in northern Vermont, are learning to practice what they preach. NOTCH pays $200 toward each employee's personal wellness activities, including fitness club memberships, smoking cessation, weight management and exercise classes. Not a single NOTCH medical provider or office staff member smokes cigarettes and several have joined together to lose weight through walking and better food choices.

Town of Williston
The Williston Wellness program, created in 2006, appointed a dedicated wellness coordinator to organize events and disseminate information. During the work day town employees attend monthly fitness presentations and are encouraged to participate in smoking cessation, weight management and exercise programs. As incentives to attend, employees receive Lifestyle Challenge Program points that can be redeemed for wellness-related prizes. New police and fire stations will include space for physical fitness activities and employees will have unrestricted access.

Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Burlington
VHFA, which facilitates development of affordable housing, is its fourth year of Wellness initiatives. A Walking Works program provided pedometers to all participants and prizes for high performers. Other initiatives include Health Awareness days, on-site screenings, educational seminars and distribution of health publications. New this year, VHFA will offer the Weight Watchers program in-house and subsidize 50 percent of the fee. Employees can meet with a W.W. team leader one day per week and receive incentives for participating.

76-150 Employees

Academy School, Brattleboro
Nearly 100 percent of the staff at Academy School participates in an employee walking program during school hours. Staff is assigned to teams, and each team has a leader to encourage participation. Each staff member is given a mileage pledge form and is encouraged to set a personal goal. For every 5 miles walked individuals receives tokens they can wear to show their accomplishments, and cumulative miles are posted weekly. The program has prompted employees to create personal fitness plans and caused a noticeable improvement in their moods.

Ben & Jerry's, South Burlington
In 2006, Ben & Jerry's took a hard look at their office site with an eye toward re-energizing and fostering good health. As a result, the facility now features: an onsite fitness center with cardio equipment, weights and classes; shower rooms with personal care products; onsite fitness trainers; twice monthly massage therapy subsidized by the company; a nap room; and a sliding board in the middle of the site for employees to slide down. Employees may participate in onsite fitness activities during work hours. The company also sponsors offsite health club memberships and negotiated a low rate for employees' families.

Employees of Dwight Asset Management Company enjoy a fitness hike on company time, as part of the firmıs initiative to keep staff members fit and reduce stress.

Dwight Asset Management Company, Burlington
Dwight employees spend their day following the financial markets. It's a high stress, yet sedentary, environment, and the company understands the importance of balancing that with physical activity. Dwight maintains a company gym on site, with cardio and strength training machines, lockers and showers, open seven days a week and free to all employees. Free yoga classes are offered once weekly, and employees are invited to participate in day hikes and skiing days, during work time, without charging vacation allotment. Dwight also provides free healthy lunch to employees each Friday, and gives employees time off to participate in community athletic events.

Northfield Savings Bank, Northfield
Northfield Savings Bank's most successful ongoing health promotion initiative is the Exercise Program Challenge, which rewards employees with points and prizes for participating in fitness activities. Employees also receive email postings with links to health tips, recipes and exercise information, and they have access to a Wellness Library of books, magazines, videos and brochures. A Recreation & Health Committee organizes exercise competitions to encourage physical fitness. The bank tracks participation and surveys employees to make sure they set and meet their fitness goals.

Rhino Foods, Burlington
In 2005 this novelty ice cream manufacturer implemented a comprehensive employee wellness program to foster good nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Last year, 72 percent of employees voluntarily participated in screenings of heart rates, blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index. This provided Rhino with information about the overall risk level of its workforce motivated people to make positive changes. In the summer Rhino's "Get Moving" program gave pedometers and tracking sheets to employees to chart their fitness progress. Last fall, Rhino brought in a physical therapist to treat employees' minor aches before they become major medical problems.

Rock-Tenn employees and their families receive complimentary health risk screenings and free counseling for weight loss, better nutrition and smoking cessation.

Rock-Tenn Company: Missisquoi Mill
Rock-Tenn Company, one of North America's leading manufacturers of packaging products, merchandising displays, and recycled paperboard, has been receiving rewards for employee wellness programs in Vermont since 1998. Other Vermont employers can learn much from Rock-Tenn's initiatives at the Missisquoi Mill.
    One initiative, the Cardiovascular Health Improvement Program, treats employees and their immediate families to one-on-one contact with a Registered Nurse to discuss personal health and set realistic goals. Participants meet with the nurse quarterly, every six months or annually to follow up on their individual health issues. Then, at an annual health fair, employees receive cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, along with counseling and information on exercise, smoking cessation and better nutrition. Employees also have continual access to health information through an online health risk assessment program and monthly telephonic wellness seminars.
    Rock-Tenn pays 100 percent for employees' health club memberships and smoking cessation medications and workers may use company time to participate in exercise, maternity screening, wellness education and weight control programs. Employees receive wellness points for participating in these activities and points are converted to a cash bonus. The annual Wellness Account checks earned by Rock-Tenn employees are significant and eagerly anticipated.
    The investment more than pays for itself, said Kevin Scheffler, Human Resources Manager. "In terms of efficiency and quality, we need people who are healthy. If we can keep people healthy we can cut our health insurance costs and keep people from getting injured."

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, Waitsfield
Locally owned and operated, WCVT provides telephone and Internet service to the Mad River and central Champlain Valley regions. The company recognizes that healthy workers are happier, safer and more productive, which ultimately leads to higher customer satisfaction. WCVT employees are rewarded for regular physical activity through "Fone Fit," in which participants track their activity and receive points that can be redeemed for gift certificates to sporting goods and department stores. Employees receive free health screenings, flu shots and onsite CPR training.

Williston Central School, Williston
An active Wellness Committee organizes activities for school faculty, administration and staff. The calendar of events includes various exercise classes, walking games and healthy food preparation. Coordinators donate their time. Classroom space is used for fitness classes. Participants receive prizes donated by school employees and area businesses.

151-500 Employees

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, Berlin
Each year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont solicits input from employees about wellness activities. Last year that input resulted in the addition of an HR position focused on employee wellness, expanded onsite fitness facilities, more exercise classes for employees and an intranet site for posting fitness articles and events. Employees may use a "cyber lounge," a comfortable space with PCs and publications on topics including wellness. The company offers subsidized CPR training and first aid classes, free flu shots and glucose screenings and monthly onsite fitness "lunch and learns."

Brattleboro Retreat d/b/a Retreat Healthcare, Brattleboro
In 2004, Retreat Healthcare initiated a Wellness Program organized as a point system for exercise activities. The program expanded to give points for preventative checkups, eating the USDA recommended servings of fruits and vegetables and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. An annual wellness fair provides free health screenings and consultations. Employees participate in pedometer programs in which they hike the equivalents of the Long Trail or Appalachian Trail. Onsite weight management, nutrition information and smoking cessation sessions round out the wellness program.

Champlain College, Burlington
The College offers various options for exercise programs so that employees have choices that suit individual preferences. Options include free access to an onsite, modern fitness center, exercise classes throughout the day and evening and 100% subsidized membership to an offsite health club. The college substantially subsidizes ski passes to Bolton Valley and operates a shuttle bus between campus and mountain. Walking or cycling to work is encouraged, healthy foods are offered in the dining hall, and noon seminars feature wellness topics. Weekly onsite massages are offered to employees at minimal cost.

Community Care Network/Rutland Mental Health, Rutland
Each year, CCN gathers information from employee health screenings to develop new programs targeting key problem areas. This year it identified weight loss as a chief concern. As a result, CCN is the first worksite in Vermont to offer VTrim™, a 24-week behavior modification weight loss program of the University of Vermont, coached by a nutritionist. CCN subsidizes the fee for 18 employees to participate. Also, now its 10th year, CCN's "Well Being to Go!" program offers all employees a free 5-week nutrition program, onsite health seminars and exercise options in and outside the workplace. Free health screenings and flu shots are available to employees and families. A wellness center features books, tapes and a scale for weight and body fat. A dedicated wellness budget pays for these facilities and activities.

A physical therapist assists Engelbert Construction employees with exercises to relieve and prevent injuries.

Engelberth Construction, Inc., Colchester
Since 2002 Engelberth has provided a multifaceted wellness program, investing $130,000 annually in health and fitness initiatives for employees who work in Colchester and construction sites throughout Vermont. The company consistently represents a standard that other employers strive to emulate.
    "For us in the long term, it's important that our employees are healthy and come to work each day, said Tom Clavelle, Engelberth Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Everybody wins. We get productive employees and the employees feel good about themselves at the end of the day."
    Engelberth employees receive free screenings to measure body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol along with complimentary coaching and resource information. Field employees also receive complementary physical therapy sessions to assess and correct problems with flexibility, core stability and muscle strength. Those who participate in screenings and maintain good health receive discounts on health insurance. Thus, it's no surprise that 94 percent of employees participate and many have changed their lifestyles as a result.
    Employees may use an onsite fitness center and participate in exercise classes during the workday. The company provides 50 percent reimbursement for employees' gym memberships and weight loss programs. Healthy snacks and lunches are offered during meetings, monthly health newsletters are sent to all employees and fitness-related presentations are given regularly. Company managers participate in wellness programs and are role models for physical activity.

Greater Burlington YMCA
The YMCA of Greater Burlington strives to build strong kids, families and communities, and its work site wellness program helps meet that goal among staff. Employees may use all of the Y's fitness facilities for free and flextime lets them to exercise during the workday. Employees' families receive discount memberships and childcare. Employees submit monthly fitness logs monthly to Human Resources, with hours logged for exercise, stress reduction and life enrichment programs. Logged hours give credit toward monetary rewards.

Franklin County Home Health Agency, St. Albans
Each summer the Agency's Employee Health & Wellness Committee presents an agency-wide Summer Activity Challenge, in which participants track time spent on fitness activities to earn cash and prizes. Members of the management team take walking breaks with staff and often walk to meetings in the area. Health information is posted on Agency bulletin boards and employee newsletters. Staff meetings feature speakers on wellness topics. An Employee Fitness Fund reimburses employees $100 annually for wellness purchases including bicycle parts, pool passes, nicotine kits, Pilates mats, running shoes, ski passes, exercise DVDs, hiking boots and hockey league memberships.

Green Mountain Power Corporation, Colchester
Employee wellness is a key business initiative at Green Mountain Power, and various wellness programs encompass this philosophy. A Personal Goal Incentive Program encourages all employees to set personal health goals, such as weight loss, reduced cholesterol or increased exercise. They notify HR of the goal and when it is achieved they receive $150 reward. "Recipe for Health" encourages employees to track their exercise and eating habits on a website and use pedometers to track their progress. Onsite physical therapy screening and rehabilitation is free for all employees to for any ache or injury, whether work-related or not. Vending machines with unhealthy snacks have been replaced with free fresh fruits, nuts, oatmeal and low fat cheese.

Husky Injection Molding Systems, Inc., Milton
Husky's health insurance plan offers discounts for weight loss, tobacco cessation and alternative medicine. A 24-hour, onsite fitness center is available to all employees and spouses. The facility also features a basketball court, horseshoe pit, volleyball net and walking/running trail. Managers consistently use the fitness center and participate in Husky-sponsored hockey, skiing and foot races. A bimonthly lunch seminar educates employees about fitness, sports and health. Husky's cafeteria, staffed by the New England Culinary Institute, offers healthy choices and Husky subsidizes the cafeteria 50 percent to encourage healthy eating at an affordable price.

Rutland Hannaford, Rutland
A wellness professional visits the store twice monthly to help employees work toward wellness goals, distribute health information and give chair massages. Stretching posters in all departments remind associates to stretch before work. Healthier choice snacks in the break room vending machine are labeled with red hearts to facilitate healthy choices. Employees who do not smoke and participate in an online health is assessment receive a discount on health insurance. Employees are encouraged to participate in athletic events to support charitable causes. Store managers are preparing to climb Camel's Hump in June. As a result of these programs, insurance expenses and claims are kept down and sick days are reduced.

Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe
All employees and their dependents are entitled to a free health risk assessment and biometric screenings of cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure. Trapp Family Lodge will use the information to identify key health risks and create wellness programs. Last fall the lodge introduced a smoking cessation program: 10 employees participated and at least 7 kicked the habit. Those who smoke must pay 10 percent more for health insurance, but the extra fee is dropped if they enroll in a smoking cessation program. Employees may use the lodge's cross-country ski/hiking/snowshoeing trails, pools and fitness center and they receive discounts at downhill ski areas.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Shelburne
On July 1, 2007, the VTB campus will become smoke-free, to keep nonsmokers healthy and encourage smokers to quit. To help employees make this healthy change the company provides cessation classes. Along with this initiative, employees are encouraged to stretch and walk regularly during work shifts and employees receive ergonomic assistance for their workstations. Employees receive discounts on health insurance for self-certifying that they make healthy lifestyle choices and maintaining a healthy weight.

501-999 Employees

The Vermont Country Store, Manchester Center
Company-subsidized Weight Watchers at Work has been very successful with VCS employees and their families at all five VCS business locations. Last year at the North Clarendon facility, participants lost a combined 375 pounds! Employees developed a Healthy Lunch Bunch club, taking turns bringing nutritious lunches and sharing tips for healthy meal preparation. VCS provides free fruit and bottled water for snack breaks and offers onsite exercise classes and seminars. Employees who work out at least 3 days weekly receive $25 per quarter toward the cost of a local health club. Owner Lyman Orton is an avid cyclist and son, Gardner, is studying to be a nutrition coach.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., Waterbury
The company offers an "Onsite Physical Therapy Program" that proactively prevents injuries, "Mindfulness Stretching," which combines yoga with physical therapy, and mindful meditation to improve mental focus. Additional meditation, yoga and stretching classes are offered onsite each day. CEO Robert Stiller us certified in mediation and championed bringing it to GMCR. Shower rooms encourage employees to exercise during the workday. GMCR offers a discount on employees' medical insurance premiums if they complete certain wellness activities, including a health assessment and screenings, a walking program and food intake journal.

In their cubicles and on the shop floor, Goodrich employees are encouraged to take breaks for stretching and deep breathing, to recharge muscles and minds.

Goodrich Corp., Sensors & Integrated Systems, Vergennes
Goodrich contracts with providers for wellness and health services to address ergonomic issues. Wellness staff instructs the employees via twice-weekly strength and stretch classes. Participation is rewarded with free gasoline cards. Employees pay a minimal fee to use a modern, onsite fitness center and five offsite health clubs. Goodrich offers Weight Watchers at Work and regular screenings of bone density, body composition and blood pressure. Employees may borrow bicycles and snowshoes, and walking routes are designated inside and outside the building.

Dept. of Exercise Science and Dept. of Intramurals, Lyndon State College, Lyndonville
Faculty and staff in the departments collaborate to prepare students for phys-ed and exercise science careers. In 2005 the departments launched a wellness competition called "Green vs. Gold," in which students act as health fitness promoters and providers. Faculty and staff track their physical activities and the students calculate their caloric expenditure. Participation doubled in 2006, with more than 100 people currently enrolled. Employees join students for group exercise, team sports and strength training, with students providing personal training.

General Dynamics Armament & Technical Products, Burlington
With an eye to higher productivity and lower health care costs, wellness promotion factors largely into GD's business objective. To prevent carpal tunnel and overuse injuries, Work Conditioning classes take place twice weekly in GD's manufacturing site. A dedicated wellness center allows employees to exercise during the workday with exercise equipment, aerobics classes and personal trainers. Monthly seminars for employees educate about stress management, bone density, nutrition and smoking cessation. Based on the success of the wellness center at the Burlington facility, GD is planning to add another wellness center to their headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.

Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans
More than half of the hospital's employees, including 100% of the leadership team, participate in CHIP (Cardiovascular Health Improvement Program)/ScoreHealth. This program evaluates employees' risk for cardiovascular disease, provides counseling for behavior change, develops a plan of action and provides referrals. Employees attend the program on work time and are rewarded with insurance discounts and prizes. Participation in a weight management support group and subsequent weight loss is rewarded with $50. Nutritional counseling, smoking cessation and nicotine replacement are free to employees. NMC spends $98,000 annually on staff time, incentives and supplies for wellness programs.

1000+ Employees

IBM Burlington employees "Take a Step for Fitness" during a work break. Walkers and runners in the 8-week program wear free pedometers and log their steps into a database.

IBM Burlington, Essex Junction Through Wellness Incentives, IBM employees are paid to get healthy: They receive a $150 rebate for living smoke-free, $150 for completing a preventive care health record and $150 for participating in weight management or physical activity. More than 80 percent of IBM's 6000 Vermont employees received these rebates during the past year, and IBM's investment in prevention and wellbeing continues to increase over time. Last year, 500 pedometers were given to encourage employees to walk, and this year 1500 pedometers will be distributed. Onsite health screenings and immunizations are provided along with nutrition and exercise information and Weight Watchers at Work.

A "Buddy Walk" program encourages Fletcher Allen Health Care employees to walk with partners to keep each other motivated.

Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington
Fletcher Allen provides comprehensive work site wellness services to 6,230 employees in 42 satellite sites. During the past year, 166 employees cycled or walked to work during "Way to Go Week," 300 employees at 6 sites participated in health screenings and many now participate in a cardiac-based risk program. A smoking cessation program rewards employees with $50 gift certificates celebrating various stages of quitting. Wellness initiatives also include physical activity tracking, nutrition and weight management and free depression screening. Employees receive athletic facility discounts and may purchase discounted pedometers, bike and ski passes. Working with the Blue Print Walking Grant, a walking map was developed and employees are encouraged to walk the campus, take the stairs and walk with coworkers.

Middlebury College employees learn about better nutrition with guided field trips at the natural food co-op...
... and with healthy meal demonstrations on campus.

Middlebury College, Middlebury
Campus-wide health screenings helped the college identify key risk factors impacting employees and develop targeted wellness programs. The most successful program is Weight Watchers at Work. Since 2005, participants have lost more than 1,000 pounds combined and have reduced or stopped taking medications for diabetes, hypertension and digestive illnesses. The Get Middlebury Moving program to encourages participation in and tracking of exercise. A daily morning stretch limbers staff before work and has decreased work-related injuries. Employees may participate, during the workday, in free morning swim and aqua aerobics, weekly guided snowshoeing (snowshoes provided), T'ai Chi and yoga, healthy cooking and eating programs and an annual, 4-hour wellness retreat featuring meditation and yoga.

Rutland Regional Medical Center, Rutland
In 2006, 100 employees were chosen to participate in a pilot program that rewards employees for meeting up to 5 wellness goals at $50 each. A total of $250 may be earned for being tobacco free, having normal blood pressure, maintaining healthy total cholesterol or staying compliant with treatment, having an acceptable weight or reaching a weight loss goal, and being physically active for 30 minutes 4 days a week. The pilot will be repeated this year, with a goal of eventually rolling it out to all employees. Other onsite programs include Weight Watchers at Work, strength training, smoking cessation and a walking club with prizes for participating.

University of Vermont, Burlington
The UVM Lifetime Wellness Program offers an online physical activity program that offers cash and prizes for participation. In the past year, 1200 employees participated. Participants form teams with a captain and compete to walk the most miles. Onsite programs also include discounted Weight Watchers at Work, noontime exercise classes, massages, meditation and smoking cessation. There are 4 different walking clubs, and a variety of workshops educate employees on nutrition, stress management, disease prevention and exercise options.

Vermont Automobile Dealers Association, Montpelier
This statewide trade organization represents 100 employers with 2500 employees among them. To motivate employees to exercise, VADA developed a friendly competition in which participants do a 354-mile virtual walk around Vermont. Dealership employees and their family members received pedometers, a route map showing distances and points of interest and access to a website with information about the towns they were virtually walking through. From this website they could access a list of "letterboxes," real boxes they could find by following a set of written clues. This encouraged individuals, families and coworkers to walk together. 27 dealerships participated, involving 654 employees, 123 spouses and 36 children. The first 3 dealership teams to cross the finish line received cash prizes and cash was given for greatest employee and family participation and fewest dropouts. A follow-up evaluation revealed that the pedometers encouraged an increase in physical activity and the challenge motivated employees to continue walking afterward. Dealership employees receive a monthly wellness newsletter with articles showcasing employees who participate in screenings, smoking cessation and exercise programs.

State Facility

The women incarcerated at Dale Correctional Facility took Hip Hop classes for fun and exercise. Classes were taught by Brianna Heart of River Arts Council.

Dale Correctional Facility, Waterbury
The Dale Correctional Facility houses 60 women who, in order to receive benefits, perform job duties such as cleaning, painting and serving food. Fit workers are happier, more motivated and productive, so Dale started a Fitness Incentive Program to encourage the women to be physically active. This year Dale took a unique approach to wellness by incorporating cosmetics and hair styling to promote self-esteem and positive mental health. Cosmetology students from Burlington come regularly to cut the womenıs hair, give manicures and apply makeup. The women are also encouraged to sing and laugh with karaoke events, comedic performances and group craft projects.



Go back to main Awards page >