Business Council Rewards SHU for its Healthy Workplace

Successful efforts to promote healthy lifestyles for all employees deliver Platinum Level award

The Business Council of Fairfield County (BCFC) has recognized Sacred Heart University’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle among employees for the 11th straight year. This is the third time SHU has reached the Platinum Level, in addition to earning eight gold awards.

The BCFC’s Healthy Workplace Best Practices Award Recognition Program highlights employers’ efforts to encourage healthy behaviors, enhance productivity and ensure healthy work environments.

Sacred Heart’s focus honed in on good health in 2007, when the Office of Human Resources  initiated its  employee wellness program to promote good health and help provide faculty and staff with various means to improve their well-being. With the addition of West Campus, employees also have access to SHUFit, a gym reserved just for them.

In addition, Sacred Heart employees are given the opportunity to earn wellness credits to off-set medical premiums and University sponsored deposits into health savings accounts for completion of preventive visits and physical exercise. Nearly 500 pounds were shed by employees who participated with Weight Watchers and Naturally Slim in 2019. Throughout the year, financial challenges and webinars promote the employees’ financial wellness and participation in retirement planning.

“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition again from the Business Council of Fairfield County,” said Rob Hardy, SHU’s vice president of Human Resources. “A healthy workplace is conducive to productive employees who experience job satisfaction and a sense of value in their workplace. That benefits them, the students and the University as a whole.”

Hardy said Sacred Heart intends to continue fostering a healthy work environment for all employees and devising new programs and methods to cultivate their overall health and well-being.

Photo: From left are Sacred Heart University Human Resources representatives Julia Nofri, Dan Warzoha, Sally Schettino and Elizabeth Henderson with Anthony Aguanno of United Healthcare at the Business Council of Fairfield County's 2020 Healthy Workplace Employer Recognition Program Awards.