Eaton Corp. announced it has received the American Heart Association’s top award for promoting health and physical activity in the workplace. This is the second year Eaton has received the award, receiving Gold-Level status in 2010. Eaton received the national AHA award in recognition of its aggressive health, fitness, stress management and tobacco-free initiatives in all facilities across the United States.
“We are honored to receive the American Heart Association Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly award for our global efforts to help Eaton employees lead longer, healthier lives,” says James McGill, Eaton executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “Eaton is creating a worldwide culture of wellness – and health awareness – so our Eaton colleagues can make the most of their lives at home and at work.”
Start! Fit-Friendly Companies reach Platinum-Level Status by implementing various activities and programs that encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements such as onsite walking routes, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments and online tracking tools. Eaton says it closely measured program results and employee participation, which was one contributing factor to the company’s rise from Gold to Platinum-Level Status in 2011.
Eaton’s global wellness initiatives include healthier cafeteria, catering and vending machine food choices, fitness activities, stress management programs and free preventive healthcare services so that employees “know their numbers” for cholesterol, body mass index, blood pressure and other wellness indicators. Eaton also has introduced a no-cost tobacco cessation program for employees and their dependents over age 18 that includes counseling as well as over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
“Many Americans spend the majority of their day at the workplace, and programs, like the one Eaton has in place, can really help people to make lifestyle changes that can improve their health, their happiness and even their attendance and productivity at work,” says Donna Ferrante, vice president, Cleveland Metro Office of the American Heart Association. “Having these programs available can lead to a healthier and happier employee base for companies, and that’s good for everyone.”
