Assurance Wellness Program Gets Employees to "Move Their Butkus"

SCHAUMBURG, IL (October 1, 2009) - Assurance Agency Ltd., located in Schaumburg, IL, recently organized a Fall “Fitness Blitz” program as part of the company’s wellness initiative. The fall program began the first week of September and is culminating with a 5k walk/run in early October. The Assurance 5k will also raise money for the Assurance Caring Together Scholarship Fund.

“Fitness Blitz” events provide employees the opportunity to increase their healthy activities, enhance their work-life balance and earn rewards. Five different fitness activities are being held during lunch and after work hours multiple times throughout the program.

• Move Your Butkus (choice of a fun run, walk or walk-to-run program)
• Training Camp (with a personal trainer)
• Necessary Roughness (cardio kickboxing)
• Wild Card Walk (organized walk)
• Hall of Fame 5k (participation in any certified walk/run that is 5k or greater)

Employees earn one point for each event they participate in. When they’ve completed 7 events they earn a touchdown and a special invitation to a tailgate party where the company will raffle off prizes to retailers such as Apple iStore, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Asha Salon & Spa and The Chopping Block. If employees complete 3 additional events for a field goal, they receive other incentives.

Each week employees are encouraged to show their team spirit and support the Fitness Blitz by wearing their favorite football team apparel. “We’ve had a high participation rate for this program, which we’re very excited about,” says Vice President, Human Resources, Lisa Pinion. “It’s important to provide the resources and tools employees need to improve their health and make the workplace a little more fun and exciting.”

The company routinely holds wellness events throughout the year including a Spring Walking Challenge, on-site yoga and fitness classes, chair massages, health screenings, smoking cessation programs and many others to improve employee’s health. Employee Benefits Practice Leader and Executive Vice President, Liz Smith says, “Our internal wellness programs have sparked a lot of interest with our clients. We’ve been able to help many of them create low or no cost programs and produce positive results of their own.”