Integrating Wellness and Volunteer Programs: Longfellow Benefits' Howard Tells How in Benefits Magazine

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - Dec 16, 2013) - How can employers integrate wellness and employee volunteer programs? Some answers are in an article by wellness expert Kristie Howard, CEBS, CWWPC, vice president of Longfellow Benefits, in the December issue of Benefits Magazine.

Wellness goes beyond physical health, she writes.

"The wellness field is currently rediscovering the key role of a healthy environment, culture and policies in supporting healthy lifestyle behaviors," Howard writes. "Employers are searching for new ways, such as micro-volunteering on a smartphone, to engage employees and improve worker health and productivity. They're focusing on creating a work environment that supports employee efforts to improve their lifestyle by addressing all aspects of individual wellbeing -- not just physical health."

 "Community wellbeing" means engagement and involvement in one's community, she points out.

Employee volunteer programs (EVPs) have been shown to have many benefits for employees and employers alike.

There are several ways in which an employer can integrate its corporate social responsibility and employee volunteer initiatives into its worksite wellness program. Ideas include rebranding, wellness champions, incentive strategy, success stories/testimonials, corporate teams for charity walks and micro-volunteering, Howard writes.

The full article can be read at http://tinyurl.com/lhfgcw3.

Benefits Magazine is published by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Serving organizations in New England and nationally, Longfellow Benefits designs, implements and manages optimal programs for employee benefits, executive benefits and retirement plans. The firm is certified as a High Performance Organization by The HPO Center in The Netherlands and has been named one of Boston's "Best Places to Work" by the Boston Business Journal for seven years running. Website: www.longfellowbenefits.com.