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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – March/April 2014
Resources:
Chuck Gillespie, Wellness Council of Indiana, at
| Nancy Larson, Delaware County government, at
| Stephanie Bramel and Leigh Dillon, RCI, at
| Terra Hamilton, One Click Ventures, at
|
Dana Lembcke, Private Fleet Backhaul, at
Short walking or stretch breaks can benefit
employees without costing the company a penny.
“Sometimes I go to a vacant office and
do yoga to get blood flowing,” reflects Dana
Lembcke, who works in business development.
PFBH offers educational sessions as well
as reimbursement for smoking cessation and
gym memberships (up to 50% if employees
go at least four times a month).
“We’ve had some employees lose 15 to
20 pounds,” Lembcke comments. “People have
stopped smoking and several have started
incorporating clean foods (fruits and vegetables
versus processed options) in their diet.”
When it comes to sustainability, she notes
that the key is “continuing to have options available
and mixing it up to keep people interested.”
Craving healthy choices
Time to shake things up!
Smoothies are seconds away in One Click
Venture’s break room, where a blender sits
alongside various fruits, yogurt, spinach and
healthy recipes.
In addition, the company offers free
breakfast and snacks every day. Hamilton is
striving to ensure that more than 50% of food and
beverage choices available at catered meals,
pitch-ins and in the break room are healthy options.
RCI helps associates set their sights on
wellness with an eight-week, web-based program
called Health Trails. They choose a destination
stretching at least 400 miles (such as the
Appalachian Trail) and take a virtual journey.
To advance, they track minutes of exercise, a
healthy breakfast and a random act of
kindness each day. Pictures, historical facts
and healthy tips greet them along the way.
“It lets them see the world from their
computer,” remarks HR specialist Leigh Dillon,
who works with Bramel at the company’s
Carmel office.
RCI has experienced continued success
with its wellness programs.
“If you approach wellness holistically and
provide something for everyone, it gives you
an opportunity to allow all of your associates
to participate in what interests them the most
and provides us as an organization with a healthy,
happy and engaged workforce,” Bramel asserts.
That’s critical to the success of an organization.”
Hamilton agrees.
“Being happy at work is a big thing for
us. And there’s a true business purpose for
that. If they’re happy at work, they’re loyal
and will do good work for you.
“Communication is really big,” she adds.
“It’s fun when you announce a program, but
it can lose steam if you don’t keep that
communication open. For us, (strengths are)
communication, leading by example and
friendly competition.”
All these examples of healthy habits
sound great to Gillespie.
“To get to that point, it all starts with
leadership buy-in, setting objectives –
whatever they may be – that make sense for
your organization and then following through
on how to reach those goals in an encouraging
manner that makes staff want to take part.
“The Wellness Council is here to help
companies throughout the state strategize the
best ways to make that happen,” he mentions.
“Get that framework in place and you’re well
on your way.”
classification as a second-class city (due to population) keeps that
recommendation grounded.
“You can have a city manager in a first-class city and a city
manager in a third-class city and not one in a second-class city. That’s
one thing we intend to talk to lawmakers about,” Fulton acknowledges.
As for the county manager, having someone to supervise the
county departments could be beneficial.
“Theoretically, all the departments report to the commissioners,
but they (commissioners) all have full-time jobs. There is not one full-
time employee in charge of the county,” Ford offers. “The day-by-day,
minute-by-minute problems, challenges, supervisions – there just
needs to be someone in charge of that.”
The commission’s recommendation for a county manager wouldn’t
replace the county commissioners. According to the county’s attorney,
there is no statutory authority to create such a manager position – only
an administrator who wouldn’t possess any additional power above the
commissioners. That move would essentially extend the horizontal
management structure of the county.
It is a recommendation that has been indefinitely tabled, according
to a November 2013 update of the report.
What’s the magic formula?
While it seems that progress is slow, the conversations going on
in Richmond and Wayne County are notable.
“There is a high level of expectation for excellence, and I think the
people that have been involved all adhere to that,” Holthouse observes.
“At times there are disagreements, but the end goal of making this
a better place always takes precedence. ... I’ve been in communities
where these people wouldn’t even sit at the table together.”
Paust agrees that the personalities at play are making these
discussions happen.
“It’s people. It’s those folks that are willing to work together and when
you get elected, you forge, whether you’re a Republican, Libertarian or
Democrat, you work together to what’s good for the community,” he shares.
Future plans
Updating all of those outdated, cumbersome laws is Ford’s dream
for the community’s future.
“I’d like to see the state address the antiquated laws and
regulations that hold counties and townships back. Someplace along
the line you need to address that. Back to the history of townships,
those laws go back 100 years,” he asserts.
“The other thing would be more risk-taking, not worrying about
getting re-elected, but make a good decision.”
Focusing on a culture of efficiency in government is necessary,
Quigg says.
“Leadership groups coordinating and collaborating – as much of
an efficiency culture shift, more from a position-to-position basis,
whether that’s the two street departments talking together or the IT
departments doing bulk purchases. That’s where I hope those
efficiencies are thought about and brought about and created, from
those positions,” he concludes.
Reform Intentions
Continued from page 35
Resources:
City of Richmond at
| Wayne County government at co.wayne.in.us | Wayne County Area Chamber of
Commerce at wcareachamber.org
