Support employee participation in Healthy Purdue

Supervisors can support employees as they work toward earning a $200 medical plan premium reduction for Healthy Purdue 2009.

Benefit-eligible employees must complete a wellness screening, the HealthPath Questionnaire, and four of six apples to qualify for the $200 medical plan premium reduction, which will be paid in equal installments throughout 2010. If both the employee and spouse/same-sex domestic partner complete the requirements, a $400 medical plan premium reduction will be earned. Employees must remain benefit-eligible throughout 2010 to receive the entire medical plan premium reduction.

Lending support to employees is simple. Participation is voluntary, but employees are encouraged to take part in Healthy Purdue and its activities.

Supervisors can encourage employees to take part in online health awareness presentations, which qualify for the red apple. To get credit for viewing the presentation, participants must take the corresponding quiz.

Staff Benefits and WorkLife Programs have created a Financial Focus Series, which offers workshops targeted at helping those affected by the current economic times. View a list of upcoming workshops. Each workshop in the series qualifies for the red apple.

During June, July, and August, WorkLife Programs is available to give "by invitation" presentations to faculty and staff in their departments or areas. To request a presentation, visit the WorkLife home page and access the Speaker Request Form.

Help employees track their progress through the user-friendly online tracking system. To access the system, go to the Healthy Purdue site and click "Check My Apples." Participants will log in with their career account and password, and then click "2009" under the "Check My Apples" heading on the left navigation bar.

Beside the name of each apple is a question mark, which links to additional information about that apple. From that page, users can click the "Instructions" link to view a presentation that walks them through how to complete that specific apple. Consider showing the presentations to employees during meetings.

Another resource is the Choose Well, Live Well newsletter, a new publication designed to be employees' single source of benefits and health information. The newsletter is mailed quarterly to campus addresses, and all issues are archived. Print a copy of the newsletter and hang it in the break room, by the time clock, or in another handy spot so employees have access to the latest information.

We encourage supervisors to work with employees to help with scheduling and staffing so participants can attend presentations or programs that give them credit for apples. Making arrangements to stagger staffing or alternate work coverage are helpful ways to make it possible for employees to take part.

- Mindy Paulet, director
WorkLife Programs

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