By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney received the Governor’s Wellness Award for its leadership in worksite health promotion.
On Thursday UNK received the Grower Award, which recognizes achievements in “growing the seed of wellness” for employees and providing opportunities for employees to live healthy lifestyles. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman was among those who presented the award.
“These awards recognize employers for their serious commitment to employee well-being,” said Gov. Heineman. “Prevention and wellness efforts in the workplace have produced higher productivity, better employee satisfaction and helped control health care costs. Wellness works every time and I applaud these employers for making this investment.”
This is the third time UNK has received the award. UNK also received the Governor’s Wellness Award in 2008 and 2011. The award is given every three years.
“This award recognizes the continued efforts of UNK in promoting health and wellness for its employees,” said Bryce Abbey, assistant professor of exercise science and director of employee health and wellness. “It also shows UNK’s commitment to providing a top quality wellness program that is intended to assist employees in making positive voluntary behavior changes.”
According to Abbey, the UNK Wellness Program has very high participation rates in the annual Wellstream Health Risk Assessment, and at the annual Benefits and Wellness Fair, which takes place Nov. 21 in the Nebraskan Student Union.
The Benefits and Wellness Fair offers health screening opportunities to UNK employees to more accurately complete the health risk assessment.
All employees enrolled in the university’s Blue Cross Blue Shield medical plan whocomplete the HRA receive enhanced wellness and preventative services, Abbey added.
Data from the health risk assessment is used to provide wellness programming for employees.
-30-
Source: Bryce Abbey, 308.865.8177, abbeybm@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
