BUILDING A CULTURE OF WELLNESS

INTRODUCTION

• Vickie Greenwold – Division HR Manager @ Parker Hannifin• Started in Accounting• 20+ years in HR• Hold PHR Certification• Taught PT at Madison Area Technical College – 7

years• 2 Grown Children and 1 Grandson• Curler• Avid interest in Holistic Medicine for many years

CHALLENGE – BRING WELLNESS INTO THE DIVISION

• Start at the beginning• 2005 – Refrigerating Specialties Division• Annual Health Clinics• Flu Shots• Subscribed to a Wellness Newsletter• EHS program covered proper lifting and

some body mechanics

BUILDING THE CULTURE

• Corporate support• Starts at the very top• Strong belief in the benefits of wellness• Metric driven – what’s in it for the

company• Coverage included in benefit program• Goals set for Division by Corp Mgmt.

BUILDING THE CULTURE

• Champion • Location level• Key to success of program• HR, Nurse/Clinic, Wellness Coordinator• Influence to make change• Drive to make it happen• Doing it for the right reasons

BUILDING THE CULTURE

• Knowledgeable support• Need a Lisa• Champions have other responsibilities also• Don’t have the connections • Advocate at Corporate• Works through problems with administrator• Makes recommendations to Corporate

regarding coverage• Connection to practitioners

BUILDING THE CULTURE

• Management Support • Local• All levels – GM, Plant mgr., front line

Supervisors• Participation by mgmt. is important• Productivity vs. long term results• What’s in it for me?

BUILDING THE CULTURE

• Budget to support activities• What is the spend• How to best use it – bang for the buck• What can you promote for free?• What are employees willing to contribute?• How can I provide ROI to get money for

the next year?

BUILDING THE CULTURE

• Engaging Employees• Parker is in rural areas • Little exposure to holistic medicine• Education is vital• Show not tell• Start small continue to build• Employee satisfaction is best

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BUILDING THE CULTURE

• What was our process?• Small presentations during employee meetings • Handouts on wellness initiatives• Newsletter• Bulletin boards• Promoted CAM benefit• Competitions – Biggest Loser• Books in our library• Health Fair• CAM demos and sampling• Pilot group• Built on site treatment room• Practitioners on site – massage, polarity, acupuncture,

laser

ADVICE / CAUTIONS

• Don’t be competitive• Combined modalities more powerful then just one

• Build relationships• With the Champion and employees• Partner with HR

• Watch what you say• Do not tell an employee their pain is work related

• Take feedback well• Bring ideas to the table• Be aware of the politics• Everyone has their agenda

RESULTS

• Increased participation in CAM• Medical costs trending down• Engaged employees• Increased morale – employees feel good• Opportunity to tie into Safety• Holistic option vs. surgery• Fewer musclosketal issues

STRETCHING PROGRAM

• Based on worksite observation. Customized to job tasks performed at RS location• Designed by Mary Jo Ruggieri, Ph.D, RPP• Plan and video shared in Employee Mtgs• Stretching team champions recruited• Champions trained on first module• Champions lead morning warm up exercises at

board meetings• Office champions lead front office in warm up• Very positive feedback received

STRETCHING PROGRAM

SUCCESS STORIES

• Four planned surgeries were cancelled.• Several WC recordables/lost time avoided.• Examples• Torn rotator cuff. Laser, Polarity and Massage implemented.

Employee reports Dr. did new MRI and tear is almost healed. • Trigger finger. Surgery scheduled, laser treatment

immediately returned mobility. Polarity and massage are correcting MSI. Reviewing workstation to improve repetitive motion issues

• Neuroma in foot: Laser and polarity treatments continue to reduce pain and improve mobility.

• Employee complained of extreme pain from carpal tunnel. Hands fell asleep at night, couldn’t hold a fishing pole. Dr. wanted to do surgery. Tried laser, helped with pain but didn’t totally resolve issue. Started polarity. RPP worked on neck while employee used laser on wrists.

SUCCESS STORIES

• Employee injured thumb due to introduction of substitute part in the manufacturing process. Immediately began laser and had RPP work on area. Pain gone in 2 days.

• Shoulder pain. Self treating with laser and adjusting work station has provided a return to full use. Employee no longer wants to do surgery

• Employee had pain in shoulder from reaching. He tried using the laser and received relief of MSI. We adjusted the work station and he is back at regular job.

TESTIMONIALS

Laser• “Really works, it took the pain away!”

• “No more pain in palm of my hands, absolutely fabulous!”

• “Incredible! – knees are so much better, I can walk and bend them now. It is so much easier to get out of my car.”

TESTIMONIALS

Polarity• “It is relieving the tension in my neck – this is the best

thing Parker could have done for it’s employees!”

• “It is absolutely worth the time and is helping with my digestive system.”

• “I feel the root cause is being addressed in a natural way. The stretching exercises she gives me are great and can be done at home. I feel she understands how the body works and what areas to work to get results.”

TESTIMONIALS

Polarity• “I am doing polarity but she is using the laser too.

My Dr. thought I had carpal tunnel. I couldn’t fish, couldn’t hold a coffee cup. She (RPP) worked on my neck and shoulder (not my hands). It’s great, I can use my hands for everything, my arm isn’t numb. Polarity is great and no surgery!”

WHAT NEXT?

• To maintain a culture you can’t stop!• Statin study• Working with Lisa• Goal – natural vs statins• Decrease cholesterol

• Nutrition• Improve dietary habits• Introduce healthy foods• Create awareness of impact of choices

• Exercise

RESULT—HAPPY, PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE!

QUESTIONS