Health, it is something we all strive for while often seeking direction on ways we can improve it and retain it. Here at VITEK we believe the well-being and health of our team and their work environment is extremely important. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option when we can be an active participant in helping to keep our company, employees, and clients healthy and safe! Recently we formed a “VITEK Wellness Team”, made up of volunteers from different departments across the company to help plan and implement initiatives designed to promote both our employee’s and client’s health and well-being!
Our first goal was to develop a practical plan to safeguard our workplace from harmful germs and viruses, including the potential H1N1 flu pandemic. We distributed VITEK hand foam sanitizers to each employee and stocked our front desk with additional sanitizers for our clients. Also, in October every branch received a ‘VITEK Healthy Habit Wellness Kit’ full of resources and items designed to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. At our corporate office we are now in the habit of taking a few minutes every Monday to do our ‘Morning Wipe Down’ of our phones, keyboards, doorknobs, and office equipment with Clorox surface wipes.
We had a huge turnout in early December for a special presentation on nutrition and meal planning for our employees by Lorin Brown, a Kaiser health professional. Her ‘Bid Your Body Well’ talk was full of useful information and easy habit forming ways to put into practice. Armed with a much greater understanding and awareness of how a proper diet impacts our health and well-being, we have eliminated our corporate vending machine in our lunchroom and replaced it with a second refrigerator to allow for healthier snacks for our employees.
Starting in February, we will be launching our ‘VITEK Team Walk Challenge’, encouraging our employees to take at least five minutes each day to get up from their desk, stretch and walk around the office.
Already we’ve accomplished much and we’re just getting started! As a follower of our Blog, we encourage you to grab hold of your health too, and begin practicing healthier habits and choices. Next time you feel like a snack, grab for an apple instead of a candy bar or take the stairs rather than the elevator. Each little thing adds up to so much!
Philip Duncan
Executive Vice President
