Feature Stories - January 2004

Wellness is Serious Business

Nevada Companies Invest in Healthy Employees

by Ruth Furman

The value of corporate health and wellness initiatives is difficult to quantify, but impossible to ignore. Dr. Joseph Bailey of Rainbow Medical Centers in Las Vegas noted, "Not only is it the right thing to do, but for frankly economic reasons, it’s in the best interests of companies to be sure they have healthy employees. Insurers look at this as an investment in employees and in the company’s bottom line." Rainbow Medical Centers offers a Health at Work program that addresses such key topics as stress management, nutrition and exercise, depression, maintaining a healthy heart, managing diabetes, cancer, safety, preventive health tips, managing chronic pain, smoking cessation and working with arthritis.

Nearly one quarter of adult Americans are obese and many others have health problems. To corporations and small businesses alike, these alarming numbers often translate to rising healthcare costs. The obvious benefits to being at a healthy weight and in good cardiovascular health are numerous and include decreased hypertension, lower blood sugar and a decreased risk of cancer, among many others.

Nevada companies provide a diverse array of health and wellness-related benefits for team members. Some have onsite fitness centers while others offer employees discounted memberships to local health clubs. Corporate health-and-wellness programs include weight loss support, smoking cessation and a range of tools to promote employee activity.

Darcy Neighbors, president of Consultants in Marketing and CAPRI in Las Vegas, oversees a staff of 13. She frequently makes health-and-wellness opportunities available to her employees, such as massage treatments, flu shots and breast cancer screening education. She also encourages her team to work out on a regular basis and eat healthful foods. "I take their well-being very seriously and offer as many tools as I can," said Neighbors, who rises at 5 a.m. daily to exercise in her home gym.

In some cases, hard numbers illustrate unhealthy habits. Diane Carlson is chair of the Henderson-based IDC, which does fundraising for organizations. Carlson noticed not long ago that her company was spending $32,000 per year on cookies. Even for a large company that frequently hosts client meetings on-site, Carlson said, "That’s a lot of cookies." Now client lunches on-site incorporate salads and fruit. Visiting clients appreciate the healthful choices, as do employees. A cancer scare motivated Carlson to further expand already strong health-and-wellness benefits she offered to her 350 employees. "As an employer, I feel a huge responsibility to keep quality healthcare and health benefits for my staff," Carlson said. Her company works with health clubs such as Club Sport in Green Valley and 24-Hour Fitness to offer employees discounted rates on memberships. It also partners with area clubs to offer health and fitness workshops.

Bret FitzGerald, vice president of corporate communications for Las Vegas Athletic Clubs, said the biggest trend he is seeing is that people are starting exercise programs to improve their health – not merely to look good. FitzGerald advocates a program that combines cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength/conditioning, flexibility and core fitness in addition to a healthy diet.

Martha Schimmel, a personal trainer and assistant aerobic director at Reno’s Sports West Athletic Club, has noticed that more executives are taking fitness seriously than ever before. "We like to encourage our members to develop a lifestyle program that they can live with and work with," she stated. "Many of my clients are in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and they are making fitness a part of their healthy lifestyle. I find very driven people need variety, including cardio and strength training as well as pilates and stretching."

One executive who thrives upon variety is Dan Poggione, a developer for RMC Development in Reno. He golfs with others in the real estate and investor community at Thunder Canyon Golf Club and enjoys tennis and squash at Caughlin Club. He also skis, enjoys snow-shoeing and goes chukkar hunting, which provides a great workout, including hiking in the steeper mountains of Northern Nevada. Poggione periodically lunches with friends, but prefers business networking meetings tied in with fitness endeavors.

Stephanie Shirit, CEO of Resource Associates, a Las Vegas-based executive recruiting and staff augmentation company, participates in group training with a personal trainer at a private gym in Las Vegas. Group training is a growing trend, and the business owner said she enjoys the camaraderie of the group environment and the resulting social and networking opportunities the training provides.

Aristocrat Technologies is planning to implement an employee fitness center at its Las Vegas office to provide employees with the convenience of an onsite exercise facility. "Our employee fitness facility, along with discounted gym memberships, augments our comprehensive health benefits package and reflects Aristocrat’s commitment to promoting health and wellness for all employees," said Jennifer Martinez, the firm’s vice president, human resources.

Offering health-and-wellness benefits to employees positively impacts employee loyalty, said Jeff Crozier, health services supervisor for another company in the gaming industry, IGT. Crozier, who works in IGT’s Reno office, said, "Employees tell me one reason they stay with our company is because of the benefit we offer with the on-site fitness facility. Our management team also feels that a healthy and happy workforce is more productive." IGT offers competitive incentives and prizes to challenge employees to meet their fitness goals. In 2003, one wellness challenge included Iron Man, when participants earned points for eating fruits and vegetables, getting eight hours of sleep a night, exercising and drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day. The Battle of the Holiday Bulge rewarded employees who did not gain weight or inches between Thanksgiving and the New Year.

Health clubs abound, with new ones opening constantly throughout the state. New clubs provide additional opportunities for busy executives to exercise close to their homes and offices. For example, Holly Lobelson Silvestri, president of Impress Communications in Las Vegas, is considering partnering up with a new health club that opened near her office to make memberships available to her team of five employees.

Many team members at the Golden Nugget Laughlin have benefited from the company-wide wellness initiative, which includes gym memberships to Bullhead Health Club, Weight Watchers courses, smoking cessation programs and the "Golden Challenge". Team members even earn points for healthy lifestyles, including participating in community-oriented fitness activities to benefit charities. The Golden Nugget Laughlin’s health-and-wellness program was spearheaded by Andre Carrier, chief operating officer, and Sue Winchester, HR director. Not only does the Golden Nugget Laughlin offer Weight Watchers courses at the casino, but the company even offers Weight Watchers cuisine in its employee dining room, making unhealthful options less prevalent. The company’s comprehensive wellness program challenges employees who diet, exercise, stop smoking and live a healthy life by offering significant prizes to top performers. "It’s amazing what happens when you take people and turn them into wellness coaches for one another," marveled Carrier. The Golden Nugget Laughlin’s partnership with Bullhead Health Club even includes health coaches for its team members.

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) employees can work out in the Clark County wellness center for a nominal charge per month (deducted from their paycheck) and are eligible to win prizes if they walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to work. Jacob Snow, general manager of the RTC, rides his bike to work frequently. "The motion of the bike and the exercise benefits my thought process," Snow said. "I can process my day and get my endorphins going." The RTC has a shower and locker room facility for the convenience of its employees who choose to ride to work.

Kimberly Simon, vice president of CinemaRide and director of operations for Tickets2Nite in Las Vegas, enjoys working with team members to help them set up their own fitness programs and workout regimens. Simon frequently works 12-hour days. Still, she juggles her career, time with her spouse and exercise time. "Exercise helps me function and keeps my energy level up, " she said. Liz Younger of the Reno-based Elizabeth Younger Agency, who exercises during her lunch hour with a personal trainer at a club near her office, concurs. Younger added that the strength training she does helps her in equestrian events she enjoys.

Since payroll and health insurance costs consume such a large part of each company’s payroll, a healthy workforce is proving to be a worthwhile investment for Nevada employers.

IGT’s Reno headquarters has made space for an on-site fitness facility. Management feels a healthy and happy workforce is more productive, and IGT offers competitive incentives and prizes to challenge employees to meet fitness goals.

Ruth Furman
Ruth Furman is a freelance writer based in southern Nevada.