February 2008

Employer Spotlight: Sierra Construction, Woodinville, WA

Testimonial provided by Jessie Elliot, Communications Coordinator, BBA & BIAW Health Insurance Trusts and Capital Benefit Services, INC.

Sierra Construction Company could easily be the poster child for implementing wellness initiative programs to their employees. Covered by the MBA Health Insurance Trust since 2002, Sierra Construction has always provided their employees with “extras.” The company pays for gym and Costco memberships as well as providing a full array of medical, dental and life insurance benefits. 

With the addition of Regence Vitality to all MBA Trust plans on Sept. 1, 2007, the company has already moved forward on wellness initiatives available through the program. Since gaining access to Regence Vitality, Nancy Adler, Human Resource Manager, Sierra Construction, has further pushed their wellness initiative forward. “We believe that people should take a more active role in their health care. Both individuals and the group will benefit from this,” she said.

Nancy organized Sierra’s first benefits fair, which was held on Nov. 29. “A health fair seemed like the best way to get the information out there,” she said.

She decided the best way to get participation was to combine the Benefits Fair with the flu shots that the company provides annually. Along with flu shots, biometric screening was available, representatives from Regence attended, stations were set up for people to take Health Risk Assessments, a representative from Costco provided healthy snacks, the company’s EAP offered materials, and chair massages were provided.

“We knew it would be a struggle getting people to participate given their hectic daily schedules and our scattered workforce,” said Nancy.

To encourage participation, Nancy provided incentives for attendees. She created sticker cards for employees to take to each station. Once they completed their cards, they were entered into a drawing to win prizes such as a signed baseball, cookbooks, heart monitors, and much more. Each employee who came also received a pedometer and a $5 Jamba Juice gift card. “The sticker card was a great way for them to see everything; it forced them to go to each table,” Nancy said.

Nancy received a great amount of positive feedback after the fair. People commented that it was well organized, nice to have people from the health plan there to answer questions, and very informative regarding wellness. One employee said that the fair “represents the company’s sincere desire in helping each other’s well being.”

This successful fair is only the beginning of Sierra Construction’s efforts to promote wellness in the workplace. Currently, it is considering different incentive programs, planning on changing vending machines snacks to offer healthier options, and using the 101 tips from the Vitality starter kit to further promote wellness awareness.