June 13, 2019
Media Contacts:
Mark Miller, Administrator, Office of Public Information, 410-313-2022
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that Howard County was recognized among the state’s 2019 Healthiest Maryland Businesses (HMB) Wellness at Work Silver Awardees for accomplishments in promoting worksite health. The HMB awards were awarded by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) on June 7 at their 10th annual Worksite Health and Wellness Symposium at Martin’s West. See a photo of the Wellness Works Committee presentation on Flicker at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEezccs and review the full list of awardees at https://www.healthiestmdbusinesses.org/awards19.
“Our employees are one of the most important reasons why we are the best county in the nation and their health is so important to us,” said Ball. “When we invest in wellness, we are holding down health care premiums and using taxpayer dollars efficiently, as well as helping people have the best quality of life possible. I am very appreciative of our Wellness Works Committee for their efforts to encourage co-workers’ happy and healthy lifestyles.”
The Wellness Works Committee coordinates efforts among health care providers and affiliate agencies to provide employees a wide range of wellness resources. They include access to county fitness facilities, exercise and wellness programs including Weight Watchers, and other health fair and educational opportunities across county departments such as health screenings. Employees learn about events, programs and resources through emails and a quarterly newsletter.
The Wellness at Work Awards are based on criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Workplace Health Model and are sponsored by HMB, the state’s initiative to support healthy workplaces. Employer applicants submit their activities, policies and tools that support workplace wellness across four areas: assessment, planning and management, implementation, and evaluation.
Employers earn a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or On the Path award based on their activities to establish leadership support for wellness, create wellness committees, survey the needs and interests of their employees, set health improvement goals, and develop monitoring tools to track their outcomes over time.
“Run on a volunteer basis, Wellness Works has designed a program to align employee wellness needs with a culture of well-being at work,” said Vicki Rand, Co-chair of the county’s Wellness Works Committee. “Each year, we modify the plan to fit the current needs and desires of the employees. This is by far the most rewarding committee that I have ever been a part of. The committee represents a variety of departments and agencies with unique needs. We are lucky to have the support of our insurance providers who use the available wellness funds to provide activities and resources at little or no cost to the county. Employees provide continuous positive feedback that we are helping them be at their best.”
About Healthiest Maryland Businesses
Launched in 2010 and based at the Maryland Department of Health, Healthiest Maryland Businesses helps businesses create customized wellness plans, set wellness goals, and monitor progress. Six regional coordinators around the state provide personalized guidance to businesses of all sizes. To date, more than 270 businesses have signed on to take advantage of this program. Any Maryland employer who is a member of HMB is eligible to apply, and there is no cost to be a member. To learn more about Healthiest Maryland Businesses services or membership, visit www.healthiestMDbusinesses.org.