Pinnacle Polymers, a Louisiana-based manufacturer of polypropylene for injection molding, fibers, and extrusion, has been presented a Total Health Thriving Together Award by Humana Inc., one of the country’s leading health and well-being companies, for building a culture of health and well-being for its employee workforce.
Humana’s Total Health Thriving Together Award is a national honor recognizing companies, like Pinnacle Polymers, for achieving one of the best wellness engagement rates in the country. Pinnacle Polymers has engaged 80 percent or more of its employees and family dependents in Go365 TM, a wellness and rewards program that helps individuals focus on personal health and well-being. Launched in 2015, Humana has presented the award to more than 40 companies across the nation.
Pinnacle Polymers recognized, more than a year ago, that adopting a wellness and engagement program would help manage claims costs, while also improving employee health and productivity. The company integrated its standard medical plan with Humana’s Total Health wellness solution in an effort to personalize wellness, and encourage and incentivize behavior change in its employees and their families.
“By challenging employees to embrace their competitive nature, Pinnacle was able to truly engage employees in health and wellness activities, such as Step Challenges and a 5K walk/run,” said Traci Precht, Senior Human Resource Manager for Pinnacle Polymers. “The welcome by-product of a healthier, happier, and more energetic team is what continues to drive the passion behind the program. Pinnacle continues to inspire success, including weight loss, among our employees.”
Once a culture of well-being was born among the company’s 120 employees, the “Pinnacle Wellness Committee” was tasked with maintaining the healthy momentum. The Wellness Committee developed daily challenges for employees, including five-minute walking breaks outdoors, wellness moments during meetings, and health messages on signs and e-mail. Educational opportunities promoting health, as well as biometric screenings, enhanced the effort.
“When a company establishes a defined culture of wellness, it will most certainly positively impact the health, well-being and productivity of employees,” said Beth Bierbower, President of the Group and Specialty Segment for Humana. “Humana is pleased to honor Pinnacle Polymers for the time and energy dedicated to make wellness a priority, building a culture of well-being that will help employees and their dependents live healthier lives.”
Humana’s Total Health solution provides a full partnership with employers to improve well-being through Humana’s wellness and rewards program, Go365, designated engagement resources, and a multi-year agreement that gives the opportunity for the company to receive a wellness discount based on achievement. Humana has found that companies that combine Total Health and Go365 with a standard medical plan experienced eight times higher wellness engagement of employees.
Through a three-year claims and productivity study, Humana found that, on average, those engaged employees with chronic conditions had 51 percent lower claims costs than unengaged employees with chronic conditions.
Humana’s Total Health has saved employers more than $12 million through engagement discounts since 2013. More than half of Total Health groups receive a wellness discount in their first renewal year, which increases to more than 70 percent of groups upon their second renewal in the program.