Online Tracker Helps Employers Provide Healthier Workplaces

BALTIMORE, MD (June 12, 2017) — Today, the Baltimore City Health Department announced its Workplace Wellness designation that encourages area employers to provide the healthiest professional setting possible. A new online tool will allow companies to assess their efforts to provide a healthy and fit work environment for all employees.

“The Workplace Wellness designation is beneficial not just for our residents and employees, but for our economy,” said Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. “We hope that every Baltimore business considers joining this challenge and makes their workplaces healthier for everyone.”

Designed to assist employers as they assess their health promotion programs, identify gaps, and prioritize high-impact strategies in nutrition, physical fitness, and emotional health, the tool rates employers based on their answers to the questionnaire. It also rates them for supporting mental health and well-being. Businesses could be awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze labels.

“As healthcare costs continue to rise, it is more critical than ever that we work to meet the specific needs of an employee population and maximize the engagement and participation of workplace wellness programs,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “Employee health is not just about medical costs; a healthy workforce it is a more productive workforce, and worksite health promotion is an investment in a business’s most important assets: its employees and our city’s residents.” 

The questionnaire was adapted from the CDC's Worksite Health ScoreCard, an evidence-based assessment for worksite wellness. The questions not only spotlight wellness successes, but they will also identify areas that may be challenging. Once the score and designation have been generated, companies will receive a certificate from the Baltimore City Health Department along with artwork files to place on future promotional materials.

To date, the following companies are participating in the initiative and have been awarded the following labels: Baltimore Ravens (Gold), BGE (Gold),  CareFirst (Gold), LifeBridge Health (Gold), M&T Bank (Gold), T. Rowe Price (Gold), Under Armour (Gold), Stifel (Silver), Transamerica (Silver), Ayers Saint Gross (Bronze), RSM (Bronze).