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Staff wellness, training uptake varies by department; county encourages department-level engagement
Summary
County staff told the committee employee participation in wellness and training programs varies by department, with sheriff’s office and highway departments among the most engaged; wellness screenings are held annually and benefits available via the Blue Cross Blue Shield app were highlighted.
Committee members discussed employee engagement in county wellness and training programs and agreed participation varies widely by department.
A county staff member said department heads are the initial point of contact for training and are typically the best positioned to encourage participation. The sheriff’s office and highway department were cited as highly engaged with the available programs; the nursing home has grown more engaged after hiring a full-time administrator named Marcus. The staff member said the county offers hundreds of online courses (the presenter cited a list of about 320 courses), annual harassment training required for all employees, and wellness screenings that have been offered for the last several years.
Wellness incentives and tools: Staff encouraged employees to download the Blue Cross Blue Shield wellness app, which includes gym membership discounts and a points-based program that rewards activity; a committee member said they had found a gym membership option through the insurer for about $19 per month. Officials said the county can help design department-specific programming and can assign required courses through the learning portal to support participation and incorporate completion into annual reviews.
Why it matters: County officials framed department-head outreach and targeted programming as the most effective ways to raise participation in preventive screenings and training, and said staff can narrow the long course list to department-appropriate topics to avoid overwhelming employees.
