2010 Healthy Workplace Award Winner

Jolles Insurance has been awarded a Gold Designation for Healthy Workplaces by the Howard County Health Department Healthy Howard Initiative.  This award recognizes their ongoing effort to educate and encourage everyone to live healthy lifestyles, and reinforces Brian's commitment to promote healthy living in the community.  Healthy snacks, enrollment in fitness programs and a healthy work environment are key to the Jolles Insurance success.  Currently all employees are registered in a Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Program and they all participate year round in Stay Active Howard County.  These programs promote teamwork, while helping participants achieve personal fitness and nutrition goals.  This past week, Jolles Insurance was also presented with the Healthy Workplace Innovation Award, given out to only one small and one large employer in Howard County.  By making wellness part of the company culture, Brian is hoping to encourage his staff to eat healthy, exercise and live a healthy lifestyle.

The Healthy Workplaces Program recognizes Howard County workplaces that are committed to improving employee health and well-being through six main areas of worksite wellness:
 
1) Culture of Wellness
2) Physical Activity
3) Mental Health
4) Environmental Health
5) Nutrition
6) Safety 
 
This accreditation program was developed from a review of evidence-based worksite wellness activities, including guidelines from existing efforts by the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society as well as recommendations from the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and the Horizon Foundation.  In 2009, the first year of the program, businesses were eligible to become certified at the Bronze or Silver level.  Designees represented a wide range of industries and business models, including local, regional, national, and global businesses ranging in size from 2 to 250,000 employees. 2010 was the first year that the gold level was introduced

Businesses interested in applying for Healthy Business accreditation can contact Phyllis Smelkinson at 410-313-6268 or healthyworkplaces@howardcountymd.gov