The rewards that come with extensive hard work, sacrifice, personal commitment and beyond can be exhilarating, especially when recognition comes from the highest levels you might never have dreamed possible. Fortunately, for the team at Edgewater Bank of St. Joseph, they did dream of those levels, worked hard to achieve and can now bask in the glory of achieving the top prize of all.
Edgewater’s committed team was recently named the winner of the 2019 Governor’s Fitness Award for Healthy Workplace from the Michigan Fitness Foundation and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. Edgewater won in the organization’s small- to medium-sized company category according to bank President & CEO Rick Dyer. The award was presented at a gala dinner held at MGM Grand Detroit. Every company in the State of Michigan with less than 150 employees was eligible for the award.
Dyer says, “Edgewater Bank is thrilled to have our employees recognized statewide for their ongoing commitment to healthier living,” noting, “We are eating better, exercising more and shedding pounds. I hope we can inspire other companies to encourage their employees to live healthier, too. It really is very attainable if you make it a part of your culture.”
Every year, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation bestows the Healthy Workplace Award on organizations with outstanding programs that promote healthy living and create best practices for others throughout Michigan to emulate. The goal is to support their employees’ efforts to be fit, healthy and more productive.
Edgewater Bank’s commitment to healthier lifestyles began about four years ago when it implemented its “Invest in Your Health” program. Some of the bank’s milestones that the GFA recognized include:
- Partnering with Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph to educate employees about nutrition, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, along with seminars such as “You Are What You Drink.” The bank also covers the costs for employees and spouses to conduct an annual volunteer biometric health screening with Lakeland professionals so they “know their numbers.” Medical professionals then work with each participant to set up a plan to review their biometric results and address areas of concern. Dyer said almost 100-percent of the bank’s employees, plus many spouses, have participated in the biometric health screening.
- Providing cash incentives for each employee who participates in the biometrics program and completes three of the program’s five annual lifestyle goals, such as visiting the dentist, having an annual physical, participating in a 5K, or assisting someone else in their healthy lifestyle journey. Dyer says, “Last year we paid incentive dollars to over 90-percent of our employees and this year we have increased the cash incentives for both participating employees and their spouses. We expect most every employee will receive healthy lifestyle incentives this year.”
- Losing more than 500 pounds collectively between employees and spouses.
- Exercising more, including the bank installing a shower to encourage lunch hour walking and running. Nine employees ran the Detroit Marathon in 2018 as part of relay teams. For 2019, fifteen employees have formed three 5-person relay teams to run the Grand Rapids Marathon.
Dyer is pleased with the progress, telling us, “A lot of our employees are taking their health more seriously, including me,” and he adds, “It’s not unusual to hear our team members giving each other nutrition advice or inviting each other to exercise together during lunch or after work. This is definitely a ‘feel good’ team building program. Winning the Governor’s Fitness Award just boosts our motivation to keep going and encouraging other companies to do the same.”
Edgewater Bancorp, Inc., is the shareholder-owned holding company for Edgewater Bank, which has been serving Southwest Michigan as a local community bank since 1910. They have full-service branch offices in Bridgman, Buchanan, Coloma, Royalton Township and St. Joseph. For more information, you can visit online at edgewaterbank.com or call 800-922-5221.
