This year has created a renewed focus on health and preventive care for many of us. Members participating in the NTCA GHP Wellness Connections plan have supported healthy activity and behavior through innovative and challenging company-sponsored wellness programs. Here are highlights from some of our members on their employee well-being activities.
“We challenged our employees to a Healthy Selfie Contest over a 5-week period. We started the challenge shortly after we all came back to the office after working from home for 2-3 months. Each week, we asked for a picture of something different, including wearing a mask, drinking water, physical activity, vegetables and sun protection. It was all posted through our Intranet for everyone to view. We had a great response from our employees, possibly the most we have had during a wellness event.”
Caitlin Evenson, Wellness Coordinator
Polar Communications, Park River, N.D.
“Our goal was to demonstrate the importance of year-round preventive care by offering presentations on dehydration/sun exposure, dental health and poison ivy/sumac/oak awareness with related prizes. Our employees really enjoyed these activities. They are such good team building opportunities and allow us to focus on our total health as a company!”
Tracey Hill, Wellness Coordinator
Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative, Bloomfield, Iowa
During 2020, CSSA committed to year-round well-being for employees by having a monthly wellness focus, such as challenges, activities and health education, using wellness resources available on www.ntca.org. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, healthy office updates were initiated including:
- Held leadership team and employee meetings and sent staff emails to review best practices for keeping safe in a pandemic.
- Sent approximately half of the staff home for remote work.
- Limited office visitors to essential vendors wearing masks.
- Updated employees’ emergency contacts in case of a sudden onset of the virus at the office and if needed for contact tracing.
- Refreshed backup training of other employees so all vital office functions could be continued in the face of illness.
- Changed shared kitchen items like sugar, cream, salt/pepper to single serve items.
- Placed containers of sanitizing wipes, extra paper towels and disinfecting spray in high touch areas of the office.
- Provided disposable gloves and masks to be worn when needed.
Allison Richardson, Wellness Coordinator
Community Supply Service Association (CSSA), Little Rock, Ark.
ANNUAL FLU SHOT REMNDER
Preventive health is always important, but now is an especially good time to get your annual influenza (“flu”) shot to reduce your risk of illness during the upcoming winter and spring seasons. Flu activity increases in October and November and typically peaks between December and February. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises it is more important than ever to stay up to date with your flu shot. Good news! NTCA GHP medical plan benefits include preventive care coverage for an annual flu vaccine usually at no cost to covered participants.
Read other articles from the November 2020 issue of Benefits Report.