Central Florida's Healthiest Workplace Award Winners Announced

Online, July 19, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The inaugural Healthy Workplace Awards, sponsored by Get Active Orlando (GAO) to recognize Central Florida's healthiest workplaces, attracted 25 area businesses and organizations touting their healthy initiatives for their respective employees.

Although there could only be one winner in each of three categories, which were based on the number of healthy workplace initiatives in place, GAO will thank all applicants with a special reception at City Hall on August 11, 2010, at 5:30 p.m.

First Place - Gold Division: City of Orlando
The City of Orlando has set the gold standard for employee health and wellness practices. A trendsetter in this arena, the city has had an employee wellness program in place since 1984. It staffs a full time Wellness Coordinator, free online health coaching, and a medical staff that provides individual consultations. In addition, more than 32 employee volunteers, dubbed Wellness Champions, are spread throughout the city "championing" the healthy workplace cause.

First Place - Silver Division: City of Casselberry

One way to get employees on the health-conscious bandwagon is offering cold, hard cash. City employees can earn $50-$200 for meeting preset goals as part of the city's Health Incentive Program in partnership with Florida Hospital. Employees are benchmarked and then work toward certain healthier lifestyle goals.

First Place - Bronze Division: Orlando Regional Realtor Association
The Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA) is relatively new to employee health initiatives, recently forming its first Employee Wellness Committee to develop healthy programs. ORRA conducts bi-monthly wellness meetings to discuss healthy living practices and hosts personal training seminars for employees.

Since 2002, Get Active Orlando has undertaken the vital role of encouraging local businesses to take the reigns in promoting a healthy lifestyle. This year GAO partnered with We Care magazine and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation in the area-wide Healthy Workplace Awards campaign to find and award the healthiest businesses based on a wide range of active living-related criteria.

For a list of all 25 applicants, visit www.getactiveorlando.com.

Now in its seventh year of operation, Get Active Orlando, which operates as an active-living advisory board to the City of Orlando, is made possible by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, and National Institute of Health.