Health Links (HL): What does being a healthy business mean to your organization? How does it reflect the company's values and business goals?

Holy Cross Energy (HCE): It means being part of a network of other employers that make wellness a priority, access to additional resources and training to enhance our successful Wellness Program. Being certified tells our members and employees we are dedicated to taking care of our most important asset, our employees.

HL: How has Health Links helped Holy Cross Energy build a culture of health and safety?

HCE: We recently became certified and feel our certification will help us continue to have a culture of wellness at Holy Cross Energy.

HL: What changes have you seen among your employees, their families, and the surrounding community as a result of your program(s)?

HCE: We have seen more employees participate in wellness challenges, take advantage of our wellness trainings and in house work out rooms and walking during their breaks. We have an employee who told us that the results of his biometric testing saved his life.

HL: Does your health and safety program give back to your community? If yes, how?

HCE: 

Our employees give back to our communities in many ways: 
• Recently employees volunteered to be Bell Ringers for Salvation Army at local grocery stores. Other volunteer opportunities have helped Habitat for Humanity and Round Up River Ranch, 
• We have an annual toy and food drive that benefits Catholic Charities and Salvation Army. 
• Employees donate money every year to provide Christmas dinners from City Market to members who need them. This year we are able to provide 39 dinners to families in need. 
• We have an Employee Volunteer Program & Policy. Full-Time Employees are eligible for 2 days of paid time-off in a calendar year to volunteer within the community. Employees who volunteer one day of their own time may be eligible for an additional 1 day of volunteer paid time-off. Volunteer activities must occur during employees regularly scheduled workday and paid hours may not exceed normally scheduled hours. 
• Holy Cross formed a 501(c)3 non-profit, Holy Cross Round-Up Foundation, which allows our members to round up their electric bill and employees donate through payroll deduction. Holy Cross matches all member and employee donations to the foundation. Round-Up Foundation receives, reviews and if approved, funds requests up to $1,000 to local programs, schools, and individuals. We currently have 21 employees who give over $300/monthly to Round-Up. 
• We are adding Good Life Wellness Solutions to our Wellness Program in 2018, which has a Connect activity of volunteering for at least 2 hours.

HL: What tip/advice would you give to a business that is considering starting a workplace health and safety program?

HCE: Have management on-board due to the time, money and energy commitment needed to make it a success, create a Wellness Committee of employees across the organization, keep it simple and fresh, listen to employees about what is important to them, what will work, training and program ideas.