{"id":17276,"date":"2019-10-23T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-10-23T13:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.benefitscanada.com\/news\/fidelity-canada-focuses-on-holistic-health-program-for-award-win-137761"},"modified":"2019-10-23T09:00:47","modified_gmt":"2019-10-23T13:00:47","slug":"fidelity-canada-wins-award-for-holistic-health-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/2019\/10\/23\/fidelity-canada-wins-award-for-holistic-health-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Fidelity Canada wins award for holistic health program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Cassandra Williamson-Hopp<\/span> | October 23, 2019 <\/p>\n

Fidelity Canada\u2019s traditional health and wellness program has evolved into a holistic initiative that incorporates every aspect of working life, leading to its award win for a health and wellness program for an organization with more than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada<\/em>\u2019s 2019 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 17.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the reality is we\u2019ve worked really hard to advance our health and wellness programs,\u201d says Diana Godfrey, senior vice-president of human resources at Fidelity Canada. \u201cWe\u2019re looking to do the things that are right for the organization \u2014 but more importantly, right for our employees. We listen to them and make changes based on their input and our ability to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read: Who are the winners of the 2019 Workplace Benefits Awards?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The organization\u2019s mindfulness program, for example, includes a wide range of offerings such as an enhancement to psychologist coverage for full- and part-time employees, mindfulness training through its employee assistance program provider, online mindfulness training available through the company intranet, lunch and learn seminars, guided meditation and desk yoga.<\/p>\n

As part of its investment in encouraging healthy eating habits, Fidelity Canada has continued its fruit basket initiative. Originally a charity fundraiser, where employees could purchase fruit from reception for a dollar, it has now become the most popular part of the company\u2019s health and wellness program, providing fresh fruit to employees Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the fundraising was over, employees asked where the basket was and said they\u2019d continue to pay,\u201d says Godfrey. \u201cWe said, \u2018Better yet, you don\u2019t need to pay. Here\u2019s the fruit basket.\u2019 It\u2019s something everybody really appreciates and now we put baskets on all the different floors so it\u2019s easily accessible for all employees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the last 12 months, Fidelity Canada also sponsored eight employee-driven sports teams \u2014 two men\u2019s soccer teams, a co-ed volleyball team and five basketball teams taking part in the Bay Street Hoops tournament. \u201cThese experiences bring everyone closer together and, in the end, everyone learned that there\u2019s no better way to bond with a colleague than to walk a mile in their running shoes,\u201d said Amy Menachery, internal communications consultant at Fidelity Canada, in the award entry.<\/p>\n

Read: Variety the spice of life for Niagara Casinos\u2019 winning wellness program<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The health and wellness program also offers activities to keep employees moving and motivated, including both indoor and outdoor walking meeting routes, adjustable workstations that allow employees to work seated or standing, as well as foosball and ping-pong tables in the break rooms that encourage physical activity and down time while fostering camaraderie among employees. \u201cThese are easy things to do that don\u2019t cost a lot of money, but really are meaningful to the employees,\u201d says Godfrey.<\/p>\n

When employees set their minds to something, it happens, adds the award entry. Since the I [heart] D.E.B. program, in support of an employee who passed away, was created, it\u2019s become an integral part of Fidelity Canada\u2019s health and wellness focus. This is evidenced by the program\u2019s intranet page, which contains more than 70 links to pertinent information, such as healthy workplace and self-care tips, mental-health resources and more.<\/p>\n

Since the organization launched its telecommuting program in 2013, it\u2019s seen a lot of movement. In 2018, this initiative expanded to five days a week with 200 employees telecommunicating across Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Today, that number has grown to 267. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to embrace this change, become a stronger organization and innovate how we work and connect with our employees,\u201d noted Menachery.<\/p>\n

Read: What are the ingredients of a successful wellness program?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fidelity Canada\u2019s investment in health and wellness has shown a strong year-over-year return. Looking at participation alone, employees have continually demonstrated an interest in improving their personal and working lives, which heightens their perception of Fidelity Canada and its reputation, she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re always looking for new ideas,\u201d says Godfrey. \u201cWe\u2019ve been speaking to our consultants about some of the different things we can do. We recognize that in the medical profession, it\u2019s hard to find family practitioners, accessibility becomes an issue. So we are looking for ways to fill those voids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the full article at BenefitsCanada.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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