FGCU has received a 2016 Horizon Council Healthy Workplace Wellness Award in recognition of its comprehensive efforts to promote wellness among its employees.
The award was presented Oct. 28 at the Horizon Council general membership meeting, where employers were honored in three size levels. FGCU, which employs more than 1,200 faculty and staff, was recognized in the large-business category along with LeeSar Inc.
The Healthy Workplace Wellness Awards are a collaborative effort among the Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation, Chamber of Southwest Florida and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) of SWFL and are sponsored by United Healthcare. Established in 1991 to advise the Lee Board of County Commissioners on economic development issues, the Horizon Council is a public-private board with more than 80 members.
FGCU launched a new, wide-ranging Employee Wellness Program in February to promote the health and well being of faculty and staff. In addition to monthly wellness newsletters, the Employee Wellness Committee introduced recurring activities such as Mindful Mondays, Yoga Tuesdays and Walking Wednesdays. A monthly Lunch and Learn series features guest speakers sharing expertise on topics such as exercise, nutrition and disease prevention. Smoking cessation classes for employees were offered this year in support of FGCU’s transition in May to a smoke- and tobacco-free campus.
Earlier this year, FGCU achieved gold status in the American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite program as acknowledgement of its demonstrated commitment to physical-activity support, increased healthy-eating options on campus and promoting a wellness culture.
FGCU Assistant Vice President and Director of Human Resources Christine Lloyd credited the success of these initiatives to strong leadership by Assistant Director of Benefits and Wellness Debby LaRocco and Wellness Coordinator Nicole Edlin.
“We strive to provide informative and engaging programs that support our employees’ efforts to maintain their health and well-being, which benefits individuals as well as the entire university community,” Lloyd said. “It’s an honor for FGCU to be recognized by the Horizon Council for this commitment.”