Page 283 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times

270B RE-ENGAGE

for their children’s college education. They may take advantage of
educational advisory services through College Coach, backup elder-
care services through Parents in a Pinch, or utilizing Worklife EAP
services. Employees in their 50s and 60s they may be thinking about
retirement, and may start to reevaluate their 401(k), long-term care
insurance, and take advantage of our investment education sessions.

Q: What preventative measures have you taken in your benefit
programs?
Noel: About three years ago, we initiated an employee health and
financial wellness program. Our goal was to educate in leading
healthy life styles in a fun and informative manner. We recognize
that healthy, happy employees have a direct impact on overall pro-
ductivity, creativity and the sustained success of our company.

Q: What are some other unique aspects of the Vertex approach
to wellness?
Kelly-Croswell: We have a very active (20-member) Employee
Wellness committee that represents all areas of the company as well as
the different sites. Committee members meet once or twice a month
to help research and plan wellness activities, such as Wii bowling
tournaments, wear-red-to-work day, and lunchtime walking com-
petitions. The program is also unique because the committee sponsors
a one-week-long health and wellness fair in the Spring and a one-
week-long financial wellness fair in the Fall. Most companies offer a
one-day health fair per year and do not include a financial wellness
component. At Vertex, we spread the activities, such as seated chair
massage and cholesterol/vision/hearing testing, over several days to
give all employees an opportunity to participate.
Another unique component to our wellness program is the part-
nership we have with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute–Boston
Mammography Van to deliver mammogram screening at our facili-
ties. Friends and family members are invited to participate. We work
closely with our medical insurance administrator to identify the top
claims categories that could have been potentially prevented with an