Purdue University Indiana Business Journal Highlight
Congratulations to Wellness Council member Purdue University on being recognized for their great efforts in workplace well-being by the Indiana Business Journal!
Indiana Business Journal Article writes:
“Corporate wellness programs used to be all about motivating employees to get their cholesterol checked, complete their annual physicals or head to the gym.
Those are still goals. But today, workplace wellness encompasses all sorts of programs and services for the mind, body and spirit.
Workplaces have pet days and game days (think Pictionary) on company time. Purdue offers a program called Healthy BoilerBingo. There are healthy recipe clubs and on-site health coaches. Employers are expanding mental health resources, often through employee assistance programs, or EAPs, and others by offering on-site counselors and even corporate chaplains….
Wider wellness
Workplace wellness programs have been around for decades but have expanded dramatically in recent years, thanks in part to increasing concerns about chronic problems, such as obesity and mental health struggles, as well as a rise in digital technology that can help companies address those problems. Indianapolis-based health data analytics company Springbuk, which publishes an Employee Health Trends report, said that, in 2000, employer health coverage plans primarily focused on health, dental and vision plans, with limited attention on wellness programs. By 2024, the most recent trends report said, companies were providing a wider array of services, including mental health support, financial wellness programs, fertility benefits and management of chronic conditions. Conner, for example, expanded its offerings to include everything from stretch breaks to access to corporate chaplains online or on site. “Now we’re giving you the tools for the behavior change on your own, so that you’re feeling more internally motivated,” said Kelly Fenol, managing director and wellness adviser at Spire, the Conner wellness company. Purdue University’s Healthy Boiler Wellness Program focuses on what it calls the “five pillars” of health and wellness: behavior health, financial wellness, physical health, social wellness and work-life integration. Candace Shaffer “The more we thought about it, we were like, ‘Wellness isn’t just physical, right? There are other components to wellness,’” said Candace Shaffer, associate vice president of benefits and payroll at the school. “So over the years, all of our benefits programs, some of our other HR programs, other programs within the university all fold up into those areas.” Healthy Boiler Bingo awards non-cash prizes for completing five straight spots on a bingo card. Each spot has a wellness activity such as, “Declutter at least one area of your home or workspace,” and, “Alternate sitting and standing every hour for one whole workday.” Mental health is a priority. Purdue’s employee assistance program offers six free sessions with a counselor per life episode in addition to workshops and training. “We’ve worked really hard for folks to understand what an EAPs and how they can utilize it,” said Brandy Royer, associate director of benefits administration for Purdue. “We also have on-site counselors.” The university also offers onsite health clinics in West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Hammond for treating common illnesses and conditions as well as for preventive care. Those covered by Purdue’s health plan need to get a physical to qualify for Healthy Boiler incentives. And the school said the rate at which members received their annual physicals has risen from 48% in 2018 to 62% in 2023, which Purdue attributes to the program. Purdue offers serious perks to those who participate in the program, which motivates employees to complete a health risk assessment and anxiety/depression screening. In 2025, Purdue employees and spouses can each earn up to an additional $550 for their health savings account or health reimbursement arrangement…
Physicians at times see patients—and complete verification forms—motivated by wellness incentive programs. Dr. Maureen Sampson, Community Health Network’s physician executive of primary care, said she’s seen wellness programs inspire patients to get checkups or manage blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol. “For some, it is very motivating and eye-opening just to know where they stand in terms of their own health, but not for everyone,” she said. “That’s the importance of continuing that relationship with your primary care physician.” Sampson said she’s benefited from Community Health’s programs aimed at physicians when the hospital system provided an artificial intelligence medical scribe to automatically take notes for patient charts. “It’s decreased our work outside of work by 22% over the past year,” Sampson said, “which is remarkable because when you have better work-life balance, you have better health.”