Liberty Lutheran has been honored with a Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) national Well Workplace Gold Award. Liberty Lutheran is one of only two organizations in Pennsylvania to receive a WELCOA Well Workplace Gold Award. Additionally, Liberty Lutheran is among 49 organizations, of more than 3200 WELCOA member organizations of all sizes nationwide, to be recognized by the Council for its workplace wellness program.
Started in 2007, Liberty Lutheran’s Wellness Works program seeks to engage its 1200 employees with programs and incentives year-round to help them lead healthier, more active lifestyles. It was created by Gina Formica, DPT, director the Becoming Center, a health and wellness center for older adults and service of Liberty Lutheran, and John Fairchild, Liberty Lutheran’s Employee Wellness Coordinator. Since the implementation of the Wellness Works program across the organization, Liberty has developed a team focused solely on employee wellness, with the additions of Wellness Coaches Kelli McIntyre and Vanessa Johnson to meet the variety of needs for all of its staff.
Wellness Works’ programs seek to improve employees’ nutrition and exercise habits and decrease things such as blood pressure and weight. For example, from September 2011 through September 2012, Liberty Lutheran employees participating in a weight loss program collectively dropped 515 pounds.
“Our Wellness Program is such a positive program for Liberty. It shows Liberty cares about its staff and their well-being. It’s great to see staff engaged in programming, competing to live a healthier lifestyle, and just having fun together. I feel honored to be able to bring such a positive aspect into people’s lives,” Formica said.
WELCOA, a not-for-profit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, is seen as one of the most respected resources for workplace wellness in America. There are four designations of the Well Workplace Award: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. A Well Workplace designation is a rigorous process, in which WELCOA reviewers examined Liberty Lutheran’s workplace wellness efforts along seven benchmarks, from CEO support to evaluation of outcomes. According to WELCOA, a Well Workplace Award winning organization fully embraces its responsibility for maximizing the health and well-being of its employees with a vision that becomes part of the very fabric of the organization.
“Each year we strive to meet WELCOA best practices to help our employees lead a healthier lifestyle. I hear many testimonials from employees who overcame hurdles toward changing their lifestyle. This award represents hard work, dedication, compassion and ingenuity,” Fairchild said.
About Liberty Lutheran
Incorporated in 2001 and headquartered in Ambler, Pa., Liberty Lutheran, with locations across Pennsylvania and combined service history of 300 years, faithfully provides vital resources to more than 61,000 individuals and families facing life-changing situations. These individualized services include independent and personal care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice care, in-home supports, wellness services, children and family services, integration services for immigrants and political refugees and disaster response. Liberty Lutheran’s team of dedicated employees serves individuals and families through their family of services in Pennsylvania, including Artman, Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Liberty at Home, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Lutheran Congregational Services, Mary J. Drexel, and The Village at Penn State. www.libertylutheran.org.
