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December 3, 2018 Connecticut's Healthiest Employers 2018

Burns & McDonnell's comprehensive wellness program shows results

Burns & McDonnell employees participating in a bike race.
By Holly M. LaPrade Special to the Hartford Business Journal

1st Place | Category: 151 to 400 ct Employees: Burns & McDonnell

Industry: ACE

CT Office: Wallingford

CT Employees: 152

When it comes to the well-being of the people who work at the 100 percent employee-owned engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting firm Burns & McDonnell, it's not just business — it is a deeply personal matter.

“We are more than coworkers; we are a family,” said Chief Administrative Officer Melissa Wood. “That's why we are passionate about offering a comprehensive wellness program that helps our employee-owners thrive.”

Burns & McDonnell's wellness incentive program is called “Own Your Health.” The initiative is designed to help employees take control of their health and offers a range of incentives and value-added services.

Through participation in the program, individuals and their spouses can earn points and premium discounts by completing wellness activities, including exercise, buying healthy food and completing biometric screenings.

Taylor Simmons, an assistant construction manager, said she has received personal satisfaction from her participation in the program.

At the beginning of 2018, Burns & McDonnell made a $1.6 million investment by providing all employee-owners with a $300 subsidy to purchase a fitness tracker device, Simmons said.

“I personally wear an iWatch and sync it with the wellness system that could not be easier to use,” Simmons said. “By just doing daily activities and light exercise, you gain points almost every single day.”

The company has also incorporated initiatives such as the “Step It Up Challenge” as a means of encouraging employee participation. During the challenge, more than 1,800 employee-owners engaged in a friendly competition with their co-workers for the title of “Step Champion.”

The company said it logged more than 260.5 million steps throughout the challenge.

The company also offers a range of unique benefits, including providing reimbursement for up to $100 worth of tobacco-cessation tools that are not covered under its health plan. The company also decided to allow spouses to participate in its wellness incentive program this year.

Over the past three years, the company's medical and pharmacy claims have trended at 6.2 percent, compared to the national average at 8 percent.

They've also seen increasing participation in the wellness programs.

As an added benefit to the company, the combination of fewer gaps in care and fewer chronic conditions will result in a healthier risk pool and lower healthcare costs.

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