(WNY News Now) – The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has been recognized and honored as one of the inductees to the Healthiest Employers Hall of Fame for 2024. The awards program was created to honor people-first organizations that prioritize the well-being of their employee population. These companies were selected because of their commitment to workplace wellness and exceptional health and benefits offerings.
Jamestown, NY – Award applicants are evaluated across six key categories: Culture and Leadership,
Foundational Components, Strategic Planning, Communication and Marketing, Programming
and Interventions, and Reporting and Analytics. Completed assessments were ranked with the
proprietary Healthiest Employers® Index, a 1-100 rubric for wellness programming. The award
currently takes place in over 45 regions across the country and all applicants also have the
opportunity to earn national recognition as one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America.
Since the award’s inception, each member of the Hall of Fame has been recognized on a
national level numerous times. This is the first year that Healthiest Employers has released its
Hall of Fame recognition.
“For the BPU to be named to the Healthiest Employers Hall of Fame for the 2024 induction
period is an amazing honor,” stated BPU General Manager David L. Leathers, who leads the
150-employee utility. “We are grateful for this important recognition.”
“We have been fortunate to be named to the national Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America
contest for five consecutive years, which may have contributed to this unexpected tribute,”
continued Leathers. “Our employee-led Health and Wellness Team members worked hard to
design a program for our workers, retirees, and their families, which has resulted in a healthier
workforce.”
According to Leathers, in late 2023 and for the sixth successive year, the BPU program
placed first among several companies of the same size in Western New York for the WNY
Healthiest Employer Competition.
BPU Health and Wellness Team Leader Aaron Dunlap explained that the employee team
developed a point-based program to encourage participation in biometric screenings,
lunch and learn attendance, individual health challenges and preventative medical
appointments.
“The program includes standing workstations and a 24-hour-a-day exercise room open to
employees,” added Dunlap. “Healthy snacks are sold in utility buildings instead of the
previous candy sales. A healthy recipe and garden produce exchange corner is located in
some buildings. Flu vaccinations are furnished on-site during work and non-work hours.”
Past programs offered periodically include Weight Watcher classes, pre-diabetic training,
carotid artery screenings and “Wellness Days.”
BPU Human Resources Director Tammy Anderson, who previously led the Wellness
Team, noted that the General Manager and Board of Directors’ commitment to the
volunteer employee program played an important part in its success.
“This employee-developed program has improved the health of our workforce, for those
who work in the field as well as for office workers,” mentioned Anderson. “We see reduced
absences and stabilization of our utility costs in health benefits, prescriptions and claims.
The program also has established a true culture of the importance of good health in the
workplace.”
“This award resulted from a team effort, and I’m extremely proud of everyone here at the
BPU,” Leathers summarized. “I am thankful for the team of employees who have done
tremendous planning and execution of their design and for the employees who have
participated in the many facets of the program. I commend everyone who contributed to
this distinction, and I am grateful to the Healthiest Employers Hall of Fame for this award.”
Springbuk’s Health Intelligence platform extends beyond traditional data warehousing and
analytics to help you unlock your data and maximize the value of your employee health
investments. Each year, Springbuk administers the Healthiest Employers® Awards Program
nationwide to honor the nation’s most dedicated employers in bettering their worksite health and
wellness programs. Over 10,000 employers across 45+ U.S. regions have participated in the
awards program. Learn more at http://www.Springbuk.com. and http://www.HealthiestEmployers.com.
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