February 2019

Spring Is Almost Here! The start of spring brings a welcomed change, especially after a long winter spent stuck indoors! However, along with the warm, relaxing breeze and beautiful, new blooms comes the start of allergy season for many people. The most common spring allergens are pollen and the symptoms include: congestion, runny nose, itchy

Finances Cause Employees Stress As more and more employers are beginning to focus on holistic wellness, they are uncovering the importance of financial well-being. A report conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 72% of adults feel stressed about money at least some of the time and 22% experience extreme financial stress. In

Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a condition that results in your body not being able to use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. In the early stages, the pancreas makes extra insulin to compensate, but as the condition progresses, it is unable to make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at

Rising Healthcare Costs According to the Willis Towers Watson 23rd Annual Best Practices in Health Care Employer Survey, total health care costs are expected to rise by about 5% in 2019 for both employers and employees. In addition, the Willis Towers Watson Financial Benchmark Survey found that the average cost of healthcare per employee in

Why Customize Wellness Programs? The “one size fits all” approach rarely works in our society, and wellness programs are no different. The workforce encompasses a diverse group of employees who are in various stages of life. Recent college graduates, new parents, and seasoned professionals nearing retirement all have unique health and wellness needs that cannot

The Pressure of ROI William Peck, a certified Worksite Wellness Program Consultant and a member of the Maine Council for Worksite Wellness, recently came across this comment, “I’m curious why wellness is expected to produce a specific ROI when safety is not?” He responded with, “… safety is mandated, while wellness is completely voluntary. If

Employee Stress Levels Small amounts of stress at work are normal and can help motivate us to get tasks accomplished. However, when stressors build up, it can be damaging to our health and well-being. In 2017, The American Institute of Stress, found that 80% of workers felt stressed on the job, 25% said their job