YSU to receive bronze award for healthy worksite

Staff report

youngstown

Youngstown State University has been selected to receive the Healthy Ohioans-Healthy Worksite Award for its commitment to the health and well-being of its employees during 2011.

In all, 34 businesses and organizations are receiving awards. YSU, which is receiving a bronze-level award, is the only university on the list.

“Your ... exemplary efforts to provide employees with programs that encourage physical activity, better nutrition and the prevention or cessation of tobacco use are to be commended,” Mari-jean Siehl, director of the Healthy Ohio Business Council, said in a letter to Carrie Clyde, YSU’s Wellness coordinator.

“As you know, these efforts will have far-reaching implications, not only for the health of your employees, but the health of your business as well.”

The award will be presented Jan. 31, in Dublin, Ohio, as part of the Health Action Council Ohio Columbus Kick-Off Conference. It recognizes efforts by Ohio employers to facilitate and encourage employee health, enhance productivity and ensure a healthy work environment.

YSU employees exercise in Beeghly Center as part of the university’s Living Well program. YSU is the only university to receive the Healthy Ohioans-Healthy Worksite Award for 2011.

“This award recognizes YSU’s commitment to the health of our employees,” Clyde said. “We know that a proactive wellness program that helps create a healthy work environment will result in healthier, more productive and happier employees, which allows us to better serve our students and our community.”

YSU began offering a worksite wellness program in August 2009. The program is known as Living Well.

“We want to increase employees’ knowledge about the relationship between lifestyle and health and educate and empower employees to make healthy choices,” Clyde said.

In 2011, 53 percent of YSU’s more than 2,000 employees participated in some type of Living Well program, and nearly 450 employees took part in annual health screenings offered by the university and Medical Mutual of Ohio.

Living Well offers a variety of activities, including IMPACT Solutions EAP and Work Life Program and Seminars, Weight Watchers @ Work, health screenings and health-risk assessments, fitness classes, Walk Your Way To Wellness (pedometer spring/summer incentive campaign), YSU Weight Loss Challenge and seminars on nutrition, disease and stress management, depression, smoking, diabetes and more.

For more information on YSU’s Living Well program, visit http://web.ysu.edu/wellness.