‘Trip to the moon’ encouraged at car group

A Healthy Thought:
“We’re seeing the benefits … in higher productivity, lower absenteeism and more smiling faces.”
karen diehl
Employee wellness and event specialist
A Healthy Thought: “We’re seeing the benefits … in higher productivity, lower absenteeism and more smiling faces.” karen diehl Employee wellness and event specialist

At AAA Southern New England, more than 500 employees have signed up for a program that keeps them jogging, swimming, playing basketball and otherwise getting active. They call it “a trip to the moon.”
“When they come to work, they report the minutes they’ve spent exercising,” said Karen Diehl, the company’s employee wellness and events specialist. “Minutes are converted to miles, and when they’ve logged enough, they announce they’ve reached the moon.”
Reach that milestone, and you score bragging rights. Each team (there are more than 50) designs their own moon flag, and when they’ve hit their goal, it’s displayed someplace where everyone in the workplace sees it, be it planted on a desk or published in a company newsletter. Every team member gets a prize, usually a gift card.
AAA Southern New England is a chapter of the nonprofit automotive association that provides drivers with towing, tire changes and other services.
Encouraging exercise is just part of the program. There’s also an effort to keep people eating right at work, by stocking vending machines with nuts and granola bars, and serving healthy menu options at the cafeteria.
In addition, there are regular wellness seminars in the office, covering subjects such as back care. And there are employee clinics that provide flu shots and biometric screenings. Because AAA promotes driving safety, there are classes on that topic, too.
“We’re seeing the benefits of our wellness program,” Diehl said. “We see it in higher productivity, lower absenteeism and more smiling faces.”

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