Half way through the 12-week national On the Move Challenge TEAM KENT STATE is currently in ninth place among public and private sector employers competing in the national workplace event.
5X has consistently placed among the On the Move Challenges' top 10 competitors on the leaderboard, with an average of 80 percent participation through the first four weeks.
Group Health Cooperative, located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, leads the competition. Kimberly Clark Neenah Nonwovens (Neenah, Wisconsin) and Werner Electric (Cottage Grove, Minnesota) are second and third, respectively.
“I am extremely proud of all 892 members of TEAM KENT STATE,” says Kim Hauge, director of employee wellness at Kent State. “We’re up against some stiff competition, but if we consistently complete and report our weekly action items, which includes boosting, learning, assessing barriers, moving and sharing goals (BLAMS), I’m confident we have what it takes to move up the leaderboard. More important, we’re having a lot of fun as a TEAM and are learning how small changes provide big payoffs on a very personal level and in building a supportive and healthy environment around us.”
The On the Move initiative, developed by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA), creates an infrastructure for more movement throughout the workday, and rewards the most active companies with national recognition. “We always like to put a Kent State twist on our wellness programming and have developed an optional and fun-filled, to accompany participants through the 12-week challenge,” says Ms. Hauge. The game board provides a fun roadmap of ideas and ways to move with co-workers. For instance, employees get to fill a space for having a poker walk, attending the On the Move Rec and Play day, completing Wellness Bingo, or sharing a statement of gratitude. “This is our second time incorporating this into the challenge and it’s been a real hit!”
After each mini challenge, random winners are chosen and have enjoyed a variety of prizes including gift cards and Fit Kits. “It’s really exciting to see how creative our employees are during the challenge and it just shows that taking a little time to focus on your personal wellbeing and sharing that with others, can be fun and rewarding, too,” says Ms. Hauge.
For employees participating in the On the Move Challenge, or looking for more information about the challenge, please visit the resource page at On the Move Challenge resource page. You can also view a list of TEAM KENT STATE participants here. Make sure you continue to cheer them on as they represent the blue and gold all the way to the finish line on July 3, 2018. Go TEAM KENT STATE!
For questions, please contact the Employee Wellness office at ext. 20392 or 27505. You may also email wellness@kent.edu. To see a comprehensive calendar of Employee Wellness events, please visit the employee wellness calendar.