Redesigning Wellness Podcast

Jim Purcell, former CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, discusses the importance of employee well-being and the failures of traditional workplace wellness programs. He presents three strategic ROIs beyond healthcare cost savings that senior leadership may not be considering. Success stories from SAP and Quicken Loans are explored, highlighting the importance of employee engagement and happiness. The concept of ROI in relation to employee well-being is discussed, focusing on better care for the chronically ill and the role of positive culture. The significance of educational programs and addressing mental and emotional well-being in the workplace is emphasized.

Beth Weissenberger shares the success of coaching combined with training, leading to a massive increase in productivity. She discusses the innovative Handel Method used by top companies. Learn about 'learning to human better,' fostering honest communication, personal integrity in leadership, and setting accountability for achieving goals.

In a meeting on June 11th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to move forward with a new initiative of proposed laws pertaining to wellness programs. The unofficial transcript of the meeting has many wellness professionals concerned that employee wellbeing is not at the forefront of the proposal. Today's guest, Barbara Zabawa, owner of the Center for Health and Wellness Law, LLC, returns to dissect and explain the new proposal and what it might mean to employers. Barbara is a Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee College of Health Sciences, Department of Health Services Administration in addition to owning a law firm dedicated to improving legal access and compliance for the health and wellness industries. She is an acclaimed author and speaker on health and wellness law topics, lending her expertise to notable wellness powerhouses such as WELCOA, the National Wellness Institute, and HERO. In this episode, Barabara breaks down the construct of the hearing and the new proposed laws. She explains the meaning of the term "de minimis" used in the document and what kinds of incentives are allowed under the new proposal, as well as the privacy and confidentiality guidelines (or lack thereof) that it suggests. Lastly, Barbara discusses the process of submitting comments on the new proposal once it is made public, and the power of numbers in amplifying different voices. This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor's and master's degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management: Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field. UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children's Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods. Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you'll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus. UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor's and master's degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Explore the importance of multicultural competency in workplace wellness with Linda Howard, CEO of Alturnative. Learn about the tools needed to create an inclusive culture, the new Multicultural Competency Certificate Course, and how to advance diversity in the wellness industry.

Do traditional biometric screening and incentive-based wellness programs have any meaningful effect on the physical health of employees? Today's guest, Julian Reif, Associate Professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Illinois, is a principal investigator on the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study and is here to discuss the study's answer to that question. In addition to his associate professorship, Julian is also a Senior Scholar at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. This episode breaks down their research findings based on a two-year randomized controlled trial. Julian explains the set up of the study, including why randomized control trials are preferable to observational research design, which many other wellness studies are based on. He walks us through the study's primary findings in the second year of data collection and the most important concepts for us to take away. This episode is sponsored by Workplace Money Coach. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees' financial lives has been dramatic. It runs the gamut from severe hardship as a result of job loss to excessive cash flow surpluses due to limited spending opportunities. Whatever our employees' financial situation might be during these uncertain times, Workplace Money Coach is here to help them stay on track to meet their financial life goals. In order to serve your employees in a safe and healthy way, Workplace Money Coach has launched the Living Paycheck to Purpose program as a virtual option with a focus on maintaining the group discussions and thought-provoking activities that make their program dynamic. Now, your employees can engage in your wellness offerings and stay on top of their financial goals from the safety and convenience of their home office. As a bonus to their Living Paycheck to Purpose virtual program, Workplace Money Coach is offering Redesigning Wellness listeners a complimentary coaching session for all participants of the program so employees can get individualized attention for their financial situation. Just mention that you heard about the program through the Redesigning Wellness Podcast. You can learn more about Workplace Money Coach's financial empowerment program at www.workplacemoneycoach.com. Schedule a call to see if the Living Paycheck to Purpose program is right for your employees. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Guest Ragen Chastain, internationally recognized speaker and writer, discusses body image, debunking obesity myths, and advocating for health at every size. She explores the challenges faced by fat individuals in healthcare and emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself. The podcast also addresses the importance of inclusive wellness in corporate settings and encourages questioning harmful practices.

Author and motivational speaker Mike Robbins discusses building strong teams during turbulent times, emphasizing unity, authenticity, and appreciation. He explores the four pillars in his latest book and offers tips for leaders to strengthen workplace bonds. With insights on team management during COVID-19, this episode provides practical advice for fostering resilience and inclusivity within teams.

The President of the American Psychological Association recently stated, "we are living in a racism pandemic, which is taking a heavy psychological toll on our African American citizens." Our colleagues, friends, and the people who have been on the receiving end of our wellbeing efforts, have been facing racism for years. Until now, White Americans (me included) have been unaware of the racism that continues to run deep in our country. Let's change that. Today's conversation is the first of a series of conversations about race and how it shows up in the workplace. As today's guest, Dr. Ella Washington, points out "there is no neutrality when it comes to racism." Dr. Ella Washington is an organizational psychologist who finds inspiration through the intersection of business, diversity and leadership. Her research examines conditions of workplace cultures that best support inclusion, diversity and equity while also contributing to employee's individual development. As a member of the management faculty at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, Dr. Washington prides herself on helping to develop and equip tomorrow's business leaders with skills to be high-performing inclusive managers. In this interview, Dr. Washington gives her perspective on racism, how racism shows up in the workplace and challenges Black American face. She walks us through some missteps we should avoid when addressing race and educates me on strategic colorblindness. Dr. Washington leaves us with steps organizations can take to combat racism and books for us to read. This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor's and master's degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management : Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field. UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children's Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods. Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you'll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus. UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor's and master's degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

**Disclaimer - this episode was recorded pre-COVOD.** More than 80% of workers admit to feeling stress, 40% report being lonely, and 10% admit experiencing depression - and these are only those willing to report. LSD (Loneliness, Stress, and Depression) costs companies a collective 1 billion dollars annually. Today's guest, MJ Shaar, one of the most sought after experts in applying positive psychology to health promotion, believes that increasing employee bonding and creating healthy work cultures through positive psychology is the answer to lowering the effects of LSD in workplaces. MJ Shaar is a renowned speaker, wellness culture coach, and bestselling co-author of Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person's Guide to Optimal Health and Performance. She has been creating healthy lifestyles for over 20 years and has been published in both the Huffington Post and Psychology Today. In this episode, MJ explains LSD and shares a few statistics that illustrate the importance of managing it. She discusses how "bringing your human" to the workplace instead of wearing a professional mask can impact employee bonding and work culture. MJ talks about a few barriers that get in the way of positive work cultures and provides a list of specific strategies for employees, managers, and wellness professionals to start using positive psychology to combat LSD. Finally, she leaves us with a tangible tip on how to get started improving the culture in our own organizations. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

If employees aren't engaging in substance use while on the clock, why is it so imperative that employers champion substance use disorder recovery? "The research shows that 180 billion dollars are lost annually in productivity, turn over, and health care costs in untreated substance use disorders," says Peter Loeb, one part of today's father/daughter guest duo - Peter Loeb and Ashley Loeb Blassingame, co-founders of Lionrock Recovery. Together, along with their third co-founder Iain Crabb, they have pioneered the path into telehealth for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery, using technology to make treatment more private and attainable to people who could not otherwise get help. With employees in nearly every state, Lionrock Recovery has been convincing the world that virtual treatment is effective far before COVID19 forced us online. In this episode, Peter shares some of the background in founding Lionrock, and Ashley touches on the benefits of using a platform like Zoom in therapy. They define SUD and discuss why employers should care about recovery, how workplace cultures feed into SUD, and what employers can do to help. Lastly, Ashley shares a few personal stories to humanize SUD, and they each leave us with a tangible tip we can use to help further the discussion of recovery in our own companies and lives. This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor's and master's degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management: Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field. UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children's Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods. Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you'll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus. UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor's and master's degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod