Fyda Freightliner, a truck dealership with offices in Ohio and Pennsylvania, recently participated in National Employee Wellness Month, an initiative that helps business leaders learn how companies have developed successful strategies around prevention and good health. As part of the third annual National Employee Wellness Month Challenge in June, teams consisting of more than 40,000 U.S. employees from more than 90 U.S. companies logged more than seven billion steps in their quest to top the 2011 challenge leaderboards.
In the end, for the third consecutive year, Fyda Freightliner, averaging nearly 292,000 daily steps, rose to the top and finished in first place in the “Wellness Warriors” division. In recognition of this first-place finish, Fyda Freightliner will receive a $1,000 donation from Virgin HealthMiles to the charity of its choice. National Employee Wellness Month was created by Virgin HealthMiles with support from the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation.
“Fewer than 20 percent of today’s jobs involve moderate physical activity,” says Chris Boyce, chief executive officer of Virgin HealthMiles. “As we’ve become more sedentary, there’s been a huge spike in costly chronic conditions, which drive the majority of healthcare costs impacting businesses and their employees today. Theses 40,000 employees literally ‘stepped it up’ this in celebration of this year’s National Employee Wellness Month. They proved that some healthy competition and supportive social connections are a powerful combination in creating a healthier, more active work force. Congratulations to the MWV and Fyda Freightliner teams on their first-place finishes in this year’s challenge.”
Fyda Freightliner stepped its way to the top of the Wellness Warriors division by averaging more than 13,000 steps, or about 6.5 miles, per participant per day. “We’re thrilled to be at the top of the National Employee Wellness Month Challenge leaderboard for the third year running,” says Patty DePaola, controller of Fyda Freightliner. “Taking a preventive approach to health care by staying active is an ingrained part of our corporate culture. Our continued success in this year’s challenge represents Fyda Freightliner’s ongoing commitment to becoming a healthier work force.”
