Consider the adage about the difference between involvement and commitment. Think in terms of the traditional bacon and eggs breakfast. The chicken is involved. The pig is committed.

When it comes to workforce wellness, some companies are involved. Others are committed.

Most corporate leaders intuitively know that a healthy, physically fit workforce is a strategic asset that not only results in more efficiency and effectiveness on the job, but reduces medical expenses in the long run.

BizTimes Milwaukee recently honored three companies for excellence in corporate wellness. Let's take a look at these companies and how they are taking wellness to the next level.

Faith Technologies Inc.

The Milwaukee office Menasha-based Faith Technologies Inc. is based in Wauwatosa, where company wellness specialist and registered nurse Katie Behm works with Milwaukee division "wellness charger" Geri Jeffers to actively communicate and implement a wellness program for 150 employees and their spouses.

The company's regimen includes health risk assessments (HRAs), personalized coaching, tailored plans, rewards programs and tobacco cessation programs. The HRAs are offered free-of-charge every fall and include a health and lifestyle questionnaire and a personal report on cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screenings.

This year, the company began offering health club and recreational sport team reimbursements, as well as money back for participation in activities such as charitable walks and runs.
Employees participating in the HRAs save $3 to $25 on monthly health benefit payments.

MSI General Corp.

Oconomowoc-based MSI General has come a long way in only its second year of a structured wellness program. The company's leadership team decided to place a high emphasis on wellness and lead by example.

MSI created a fitness room with donated equipment. The company gave paid time off, gift certificates to health and fitness retailers and money toward MSI General logo wear as incentives for employees to participate in the program.

Employees are encouraged to exercise during the workday and accrue points for a weight loss challenge when they do so.

Johnsonville Sausage LLC

Truth be told, there were some snickers in the room when it was announced that a sausage company was one of the corporate wellness winners. However, Sheboygan Falls-based Johnsonville earned the distinction. Over a five-year period, the company's health care costs had more than doubled, and the outlook was just as discouraging. The firm decided to be proactive.

Johnsonville built a health and wellness center for its employees. The center is located within an existing Aurora Health Care clinic, just minutes from the company's main campus. The clinic provides free preventative health screenings, medical attention, prescription medications, lab and diagnostic services, physical and occupational therapy and wellness advice.


Johnsonville also recently opened a second clinic to serve the employees at its plant in Watertown.

The company offers its employees and their spouses access to a free, 24-hour fitness center, with state-of-the-art equipment, on site. The company also has created a fitness equipment purchase program for members to buy equipment via an interest-free loan from the company.

"With these health and wellness efforts in place, we were able to maintain premium insurance costs for our members, rather than having costs increase," a company spokesman said.

No word yet on whether sauerkraut is served in the company cafeteria.