Health Links [HL]: What does being a Healthy Workplace mean to your organization? 

SummitCove [SC]: We want our employees to lead healthy lives both in and out of the workplace. This means encouraging healthy eating, stress reducing activities, work-life balance, financial wellbeing, and more. We want our employees to feel happy, engaged, and that they make a difference at work. Healthy employees will be more productive and attend work more consistently.  

HL: How does your organization create a culture of health, safety, and well-being for employees? 

SC: SummitCove offers a variety of programs and activities to promote health and well-being in and out of the office. We offer healthcare to all full-time employees as well as their dependents. We also try to provide a safe environment in the office. SummitCove provides all employees with YakTracks, monthly safety trainings, OSHA-approved first aid kits and safety equipment for proper chemical handling. We are also now requiring all managers to be trained in first aid and CPR!  

Each month, we have a different fitness challenge that we promote. This can be anything from riding your bike to work, donating your time to a charity around town, or working to include stress reducing activities into our daily life. We also offer adjustable desks to employees so that they aren’t stuck sitting all day. When the weather warms up, we break out a couple of cruiser bikes that employees are able to use to run work errands or take a ride during their lunch break. We try to have fun, active activities for our employees outside of work such as skiing, 5Ks, and yoga. Employees get ski pass reimbursements and rec center discounts too!  

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

SC: We’ve seen co-workers encouraging each other to make healthy choices, participating in outdoor activities together, and having friendly competition around step challenges. Employees are generally happier. Our employees seem to always show up to work and stay motivated throughout the day to do their best work!  

HL: How has Health Links helped your organization? 

SC: Health Links has helped SummitCove recognize our strengths and weaknesses and learn how to continue to improve in all areas. With the help of our coaching session, we came up with a plan for the next year to improve our weakest areas, learn how to better serve our employees, and continue to create a great place to work! 

HL: What tips or pieces of advice would you give to a business looking to create a healthier, safer, and happier environment? 

SC: Think about easy ways you can slowly incorporate new, healthier ways of doing things; maybe it's by taking ‘walking meetings,’ using a different bathroom that’s further away, parking on the far side of the lot, choosing healthier lunches, or offering standing desks. Ask your employees what motivates them and what their personal goals are. Create small mini-challenges that kick off some friendly competition between employees.