EDS Wellness, Adoption Programs Receive National Recognition
16 May 2008
EDS has received top honors for employee wellness programs from the National Business Group on Health, along with recognition of company assistance for adoptive parents by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for a second straight year.
The Washington, D.C.-based group of Fortune 500 companies this week recognized EDS with its Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles' Platinum Award. Earlier this month, the Dave Thomas Foundation again ranked EDS among the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in the technology industry.
The highest level of wellness recognition came with the first-ever award for EDS from the National Business Group (NBGH). It acknowledges and rewards employers that have met the urgent need to improve employees' health, productivity and quality of life.
“We are very pleased to honor EDS for its innovation and commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs designed to encourage healthier lifestyles for its employees,” said Helen Darling, the NBGH's president.
Addison Bohrer, EDS manager for U.S. Health & Productivity Strategy, was in Washington to accept the award for the company. “This recognizes the scope and value of our best-in-class wellness initiatives,” she said. “Since the program's launch in 2004, we've expanded it in a number of meaningful ways, from clinical condition management to Health Advocates and coaches, addition of health risk assessments through WebMD and incentives for healthy lifestyles.”
Incentives for employees and spouses engaging in wellness and care management resulted in at least a threefold increase in program participation from December to March. Utilization of EDS' smoking cessation offering, featuring free nicotine replacement therapy and coaching, increased 369 percent over the period. Other U.S. health and wellness programs, such as Healthyroads for weight control, have also been popular.
EDS' Adoption Assistance Program, which reimburses costs of up to $5,000 for each child adopted by an employee, tied for fifth place among tech companies in the Dave Thomas Foundation's annual ranking of America's most adoption-friendly workplaces. The Dave Thomas Foundation's creator also founded Wendy's Restaurants and was an adopted child himself. Through his nonprofit, public charity, Thomas urged other companies' executives to include adoptions in their employee benefits as the “right thing to do.”