SMECO, MedStar Awarded for Wellness
Two local businesses have been recognized for their wellness efforts recently. In June, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital were honored by Van Mitchell, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, for their excellent accomplishments in work-site health promotion.
SMECO received a Silver Level Wellness at Work Award and MedStar St. Mary’s received an On the Path Award.
Wellness at Work awards were part of the seventh annual Maryland Workplace Health and Wellness Symposium at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum Heights. Another company, Easton Utilities, also was one of 42 businesses to receive an award.
“This award is a direct reflection of our collective commitment to prioritize wellness and the level of participation in our program is exceptional,” said Hugh E. Grunden, president and CEO of Easton Utilities.
These awards are sponsored by Healthiest Maryland Businesses, the state’s initiative to support healthy workplaces. Employers have the opportunity to earn Gold, Silver, Bronze, or On the Path awards. To be eligible for the award, businesses have to show that they have established leadership support for wellness, created wellness committees, set health improvement goals, surveyed the needs and interests of their employees, and develop monitoring tools to track their outcomes over time.
Launched in 2010 and based at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Healthiest Maryland Businesses helps businesses create customized wellness plans, set goals, and monitor progress. Six regional coordinators around the state provide personalized guidance to businesses of all sizes. To date, more than 460 businesses have signed on to take advantage of the program.
Creating a healthy workplace benefits both employers, who have to pay less in health premiums, and employees, who are able to manage a healthy lifestyle while also managing their workload. A work environment that supports healthy eating and exercise can lead to a healthier workplace for all.
Visit here for more information or to join.
For more information and one-click access to a full list of resources available at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, visit their Leader Page.
