ESL Federal Credit Union Recognized as an American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite
Rochester, NY — ESL Federal Credit Union was recently recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association, for helping employees eat better and move more.
"Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at ESL. We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite," said Maureen Wolfe, ESL senior vice president/director of human resources and community relations. "We're committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our employees' health and produce even more positive results for our worksite overall."
Platinum-level employers:
- Offer employees physical activity options in the workplace.
- Increase healthy eating options at the worksite.
- Promote a wellness culture in the workplace.
- Implement at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.
- Demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.
The Fit-Friendly Worksites program is a catalyst for positive change in the American workforce, by helping worksites make their employees' health and wellness a priority.
American employers are losing an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of healthcare expenses and health-related losses in productivity, and those numbers are rising. Many American adults spend most of their waking hours at sedentary jobs. Their lack of regular physical activity raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Employers face $12.7 billion in annual medical expenses due to obesity alone. The American Heart Association is working to change corporate cultures by motivating employees to start walking, which has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.
"The Fit-Friendly Worksites Program offers a unique, easy-to-implement opportunity for corporations to increase employees' physical activity, which will help improve their health – and their employers' bottom line," said Wolfe. "Even people who haven't exercised regularly until middle age can reap significant benefits by starting a walking program."
For more information about the Fit-Friendly Worksites program and how it is helping to improve the health of Americans by focusing on an activity that is convenient, free and easy, visit startwalkingnow.org.
Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $5.0 billion in assets. The locally-owned financial institution employs more than 680 people in Rochester, New York and, includes more than 325,000 members worldwide. The company has now appeared on the Great Place to Work® Best Small and Medium Workplaces List for four years (2014, 2013, 2011, and 2010). Access to the credit union includes 20 branch locations and more than 40 ATM locations, locally-based telephone and internet chat centers, and online and mobile banking channels. The company is headquartered at 225 Chestnut Street, in Rochester, and can be found on the Internet at esl.org.
