Grinnell Mutual Receives Gold Well Workplace Distinction
DES MOINES, IA -- The Wellness Council of Iowa (WCI) recently presented Grinnell Mutual and 13 other Iowa organizations with Well Workplace Awards. This record number for the state of Iowa demonstrates continued expansion of public interest and commitment to health and wellbeing.
"Recognizing so many outstanding companies dedicated to the wellness of their employees was such a rewarding experience," said Jenny Weber, executive director of WCI, the Iowa affiliate of the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA).
Awards were presented during the inaugural Healthy Iowa Awards – which recognized Iowa’s healthiest school, university, emerging leader, visionary, community and businesses – in front of an audience of 300 guests at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines.
“This recognition is validation of Grinnell Mutual’s efforts to improve the wellness of our employees,” said Grinnell Mutual President and CEO Dan Agnew. “Several years ago we started providing our employees with opportunities to improve their health and wellbeing, such as exercise and nutrition programs, blood screenings, onsite flu shots and much more. The result has been noticeable not just among our employee group but also in our health insurance costs which have not increased at the same rate as the general population. We’re very happy that our employees’ positive wellness choices have been recognized.”
The following Iowa companies earned the Well Workplace awards:
Des Moines University – Des Moines – Platinum
Principal Financial Group – Des Moines – Platinum
CarePro Health Services – Cedar Rapids – Gold
Cass County Health Systems – Atlantic – Gold
Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU) – Cedar Falls – Gold
Des Moines Water Works – Des Moines – Gold
Drake University – Des Moines – Gold
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company - Grinnell – Gold
Mercy Medical – Des Moines – Gold
Pella Corporation – Pella – Gold
Rockwell Collins – Cedar Rapids – Gold
United Clinical Laboratories – Dubuque – Gold
Vermeer Corporation – Pella – Gold
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Waterloo – Silver
The Well Workplace awards, presented by the Wellness Council of Iowa, recognize companies that have implemented and demonstrated measurable success in employee wellness programming. Areas of focus include smoking cessation, nutrition, physical fitness, self-care and stress management. WCI has been recognizing and fostering sustainable wellness in Iowa for more than 15 years. Awards are designated in bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels.
The Healthy Iowa Awards were sponsored by United Healthcare, Wellness Council of Iowa, Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition, Des Moines University, Farm Bureau, Iowa Foundation for Medical Care, Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Health System.
WCI is a non-profit, membership-driven organization based in Des Moines, Iowa. Serving more than 130 member companies, the Council's activities affect tens of thousands of Iowa workers and their associates. As a result of this year's recognition, nearly 1.4 percent of Iowa's entire population is now employed in a Well Workplace. This is nearly 2.4 percent of Iowa's total labor force. Visit www.wellnessiowa.org to learn more about the organization or to become a member.
Recipients of the Gold Well Workplace award on behalf of Grinnell Mutual are: Lori Smith (Wellness Committee member), Tom Bachmann (Vice President of Support Services), Wendy Ramsey (former Occupational Health and Safety Specialist), Tori Baker (Benefits Coordinator), and Linn Davidson (Director of Human Resources).