Workplace Wellness Award
Presented by Sam’s Club
Work-and-life balance is an important part of health, and a Conway-based company is putting that balance at the forefront for the health of its 370 employees. Kimberly-Clark Corporation is the 2018 recipient of the Workplace Wellness Award. The Workplace Wellness Award recognizes an organization’s commitment to creating and investing in a comprehensive wellness program for their employees and transforming the culture of health at their company. “We are very grateful for being recognized, and we are honored to be receiving the Workplace Wellness Award,” said Chris Boudrie, mill manager for the Kimberly-Clark Conway facility. Their nomination reads, “Kimberly-Clark goes above and beyond in encouraging wellness for their employees. Their leadership understands that a healthy worker is a healthy citizen who can complete their daily living skills with success at work and at home.” The company’s wellness program focuses on injury prevention and protecting employees from work-related health problems. “Our focus on wellness provides a work environment that supports and promotes safe, happy, healthy and productive employees,” Boudrie said. “One of the company’s values is caring, and our on-site fitness-and-wellness facility and programs are an example of how the company cares about the overall well-being of its employees. This commitment allows us to provide employees beneficial health-and-wellness initiatives.” Kimberly-Clark offers a workout facility with
cardio equipment, free weights, physical and occupational therapy, nutritional counseling and a wellness coordinator, all at no cost to the employees. The Kimberly Clark team has access to these complimentary services on-site. In 2017, the employee utilization rate of the facility was 68 percent, far exceeding Kimberly-Clark’s companywide average of 30 percent for use of such facilities. Two examples of employee success are particularly notable. Through the encouragement of the wellness program, a 60-year-old female staff member developed the habit of running three years ago. Since then, she has completed multiple races and a half marathon and continues to run today. A second employee set out to make changes in his life a few years ago at the age of 40. With daily use of the on-site gym, coupled with healthy eating habits, he has lost 90 pounds and feels better than ever. These two individuals have found success within themselves and serve not only as wellness champions, but as encouragement to others. Boudrie added that the company also partners with TRS Wellness to provide on-site illness- and injury-prevention services, as well as weekly access to a health coach and nutritionist to advise employees on nutrition in order to lead a healthier lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.