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National Business Group on Health Recognizes 63 Large Employers as '2009 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles' Award Winners

Posted on: Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 08:00 CDT

Largest-Ever Class of Award Winners Demonstrates Strong Employer Commitment

to Workplace Health & Wellness Programs

WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) is pleased to announce 63 large employers -- representing the full spectrum of the U.S. economy -- have been recognized as "2009 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" award winners for their exceptional commitment to a healthy workplace and for helping their employees and families make better choices about their own health and well-being, the non-profit group announced today. The award-winning large employers are being recognized this evening at the National Business Group on Health's Joint Summit of the Institutes on Health Care Costs and Solutions & the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity in Arlington, Virginia.

"We are proud to recognize 63 large employers for their unparalleled commitment to a healthy workplace and for making their employees' health and well-being a top priority," said Helen Darling, President, National Business Group on Health. "Employers know first-hand that a healthy workforce is essential to increasing productivity and to maintaining a competitive edge in the new global economy."

LuAnn Heinen, Vice President, National Business Group on Health, added, "The 2009 class of award-winners is the largest ever, with companies demonstrating an unprecedented breadth and depth of programs to support employee health and wellness. More than ever, employers are making investments that should pay substantial dividends over the long term."

Winners of the 5th Annual "Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" awards were honored in one of three categories: Platinum, for established "Healthy Weight, Healthy Lifestyles" programs with measurable success and documented outcomes; Gold, for creating cultural and environmental changes that support employees who are committed to long-term behavior changes; and Silver, for employers who have launched programs or services to promote living a healthier lifestyle. Among the noteworthy accomplishments:

• With 63 employers represented, the 2009 award-winning class is the largest ever; number of award-winners grows by 21 percent compared to 2008. As a testament to the increased value employers place on workplace health and wellness programs, the number of award-winning employers in 2009 (a total of 63) grew by 21 percent compared to 2008 when 52 employers were recognized. The 2009 tally is nearly triple the first-year number of employers, 22, who were recognized by NBGH in 2005.
• Seven large employers are first-time "Platinum" award winners. Of the 17 large employers achieving Platinum-level recognition, seven are first-time award winners. Of these, two are first-time applicants. A recurring theme of this year's Platinum-award level winners is a corporate-wide culture of health and specific commitment to improving employees' well-being through healthy choices.

2009 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Winners

Platinum

Aetna(R)

Baptist Health South Florida

Campbell Soup Company

CIGNA

Dell Inc.

FPL Group

Hannaford Supermarkets

IBM

Medtronic

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

PepsiCo Inc.

Pitney Bowes Inc.

Quest Diagnostics

Texas Instruments Incorporated

Union Pacific

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Health Plan

Volvo Group Companies including Mack Trucks, Inc.

Gold

American Specialty Health Incorporated

AstraZeneca

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Chrysler Group LLC

Cummins Inc.

CVS Caremark

General Dynamics Electric Boat

General Mills

Healthways

Humana

Intel Corporation

JPMorgan Chase

Mayo Clinic

Paychex, Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Raytheon Company

Saint-Gobain Corporation

Sprint

The Boeing Company

Unum

Verizon

Visant Corporation

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

WellPoint, Inc.

Silver

Accenture

American Express

ARAMARK

Cardinal Health, Inc.

H. J. Heinz Company

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Meijer

Michelin North America

PRO Sports Club

Qwest Communications

Rockwell Collins

sanofi-aventis U.S.

Target

Texas Health Resources

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The Home Depot

Unilever

Watson Wyatt Worldwide

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company

Xcel Energy

SOURCE National Business Group on Health

Source: PR Newswire

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