Obesity/Weight Management Employer Survey and Interview Project

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specifically (YES/NO)? Thinking about thesepartnerships…Working with community resources is critical forour wellness program, as noted above. This is morecomplicated in non-headquarters and smaller locationswhere the network and access to resources are notreadily and easily identified.In addition to these program resources, this intervieweewas instrumental in establishing an ongoingnetworking group for local employers called theWellness Forum. This group allows employers to learnfrom each other about best practices, share resources,and other information that helps each employer to startor continue a program for wellness. This group sharesacross industries with both private and public sectorinvolvement along with schools. Using a “LinkedIn”type format, networking and communication form thebasis for an ongoing dialogue with quarterly meetingshosted at various sites — public health department,hospitals, employer worksites, etc. This discussionopportunity recognizes that each employer has uniquecharacteristics, challenges, and opportunities soreplication of a successful program with one companymay require adaptation for another employer.Employer Interview G63. Could you begin by telling us a little more aboutyourself?Interviewee, RN, MSN, is the nurse and on-sitehealth care link for employees at one major locationin the Northwest for an aerospace and companyheadquartered in the Midwest. The company has18,000 employee located at 60 facilities in 22 statesand internationally. Products are for aerospace,armament, missiles, and security and sporting.Interviewee is responsible for support for worksiteinjuries, first aid, and on-site health questions fromemployees at a facility with 850 employees, that is alsoexpanding. There are no obesity or wellness programsin place. Interviewee has been an employee for 1.5years and found out about the survey through the localstate National Safety Council group.The company has a social responsibility report thataddresses community involvement, environmentalstewardship, ethics, and safety. One statement in thisreport from the President and CEO is:“We recognize the health of our communitiesis critical to our success, and we supportorganizations and causes that help strengthenthe fabric of our community.”This is currently addressed through corporatecontributions and employee volunteerism. Prior to theeconomic downturn, the company did more with thecity recreation programs, etc.64. Did you consult with others to complete theonline survey? No65. Tell me about your obesity prevention program.The company has no obesity or wellness program. In2010, the company did sponsor a 12 week program toencourage appropriate nutrition and physical activity.Teams were set up and results tracked over the 12 weekperiod. There has not been follow-up or expansion ofthis one time program. The company does addresswellness in its overall employee benefit education.Interviewee is trying to introduce a change in herbusiness unit to move towards a culture of health.66. From your own experience, what is the processyou have used or observed for what youconsidered when deciding how and what todiscuss with employees?With sponsorship from Senior Management, meetingsin each business unit that have a component on healthylifestyles and wellness might be an effective means toreach employees. Another effective way would be tohave coordinators at each worksite.67. Can you discuss why you feel there is a disconnectbetween the perceived need to address obesityas an important health issue and the lack ofaction(s) taken?The major focus at the company is on building thebusiness and retaining/securing contracts. The statewhere this business unit is located is a healthier statethan others and health is not a foremost issue. The mostsignificant issue is successful business in the currenteconomic downturn. Targeted education to seniormanagement would need to occur to gain their supportand other industry or employer examples to helpshow what can be done and results would be neededespecially as these link to overall business success.78National Business Coalition on Health
68. What do you think the main benefits oradvantages are your employer by having aworkplace obesity program?Major advantages in having such a program, preferablyfor wellness and not limited to obesity, would includefewer injuries at work and home, less lost work timeincluding both absenteeism and presenteeism, andhealth insurance premium reductions.69. From the potential sources of information, whatdo you use and why?Information used and accessed most is that from CDC,non-profits such as the AHA, and from safety sources.Internally, the company has an intranet but thatmay not be highly used on a regular basis. Effectiveways to deal with higher management is via email.Short messages to managers might also be effective.Interviewee noted that information on sustainabilityof programs as well as competitor or like industryexamples, cost/benefit information, and information onwhat neighboring worksites are doing would be helpful.70. Very few employers are working with communitybasedorganizations around obesity and healthissues according to survey responses. Hasyour organization formed partnerships aroundemployee health generally and/or obesityspecifically?No partnerships. Only ones known to have been inplace are discounts to local gyms. Interviewee has nothad experience with these organizations.Employer Interview H71. Could you begin by telling us a little more aboutyourself?Interviewee is the Safety Coordinator at a productmanufacturing facility for a diversified manufacturer.Products include:E Locking systems for a wide variety of applicationssuch as office furniture, cabinetry, motorcycles,postal boxes, vending machines, and computers,E Ergonomic computer support products includingkeyboard arms and flat panel monitor mounts, andE Gauges and exhaust systems for high-performanceboatsMajor company locations are in the South and Midwest.Interviewee’s responsibilities are with all aspects ofworker safety — training, policy development andimplementation, investigations and audits, purchaserequests related to safety equipment, and evolvingsupport for the Human Resource benefits function.This location in the Midwest has about 200 employees.Overall, the company has about 600 employees.72. Did you consult with others to complete theonline survey? NO73. Tell me about your obesity prevention program.The company does not have a program on obesity.Employees on their own have started a weightmanagement group that includes weekly weigh-insand a competition, with a winner every 16 weeks whoreceives a gift card. This has all been developed byemployees on their own.74. From your own experience, what is the processyou have used or observed for what youconsidered when deciding how and what todiscuss with your employees?Weight management and obesity are viewed aspersonal issues for the employee and the companyfinds it a challenge to address such personal issues. Wedo provide information and education about health andhealth issues such as obesity but feel that employeesmust make their own decisions.Observationally, we do not seem to have much of aproblem in our workforce at this site.We do talk about health as part of our ergonomicsdiscussion with employees when we also encouragestretching and walking, etc. Providing education toemployees and their families about how good healthhelps an individual both at work and at home wouldbe a part of an approach where we might want tonote that behaviors and health status that affects thecompany and work also may affect the employee andhis/her home life.E Precision ball bearing slides for office furniture,appliances, tool boxes, ATM’s and server racks,Obesity/Weight Management Employer Survey and Interview Project 79
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Obesity/WeightManagementEmployer Su
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Executive SummaryA person’s place
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BackgroundOver the past thirty year
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ApproachNBCH, CDC, and NSC develope
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esponsibilities associated with a j
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Length of Time Obesity Program in P
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A workplace culture of health provi
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Employer Ranking for Importance of
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Barriers for Employers to Take Acti
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plans and vendors or consultants. T
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Existing Community Partnerships. Re
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Figure 14. Continuum of Program Evo
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those individuals in the safety fun
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Page 54 and 55: Centers for Disease Control and Pre
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Page 58 and 59: Product: Web ToolsEmployer Size Not
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