Bellin, Green Bay Announce Workplace Wellness Incentives

Flex Time, Packer Appearance Offered in Conjunction with Women's Half Marathon

The city of Green Bay will offer workplace flex time to employees attending Wednesday morning training runs for the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon, presented by Lilly, Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt announced Thursday, July 16.

The mayor also issued a challenge to fellow Green Bay workplaces to follow suit, emphasizing the importance of employee wellness as the city and Bellin Health joined to announce workplace health incentives related to the Sept. 26 individual event and two-person relay.

“Employers — including the city of Green Bay — know that a healthy employee is a happy employee, and that a fit workplace is a productive workplace,” Schmitt said. “A healthy workforce can mean lower healthcare costs, and that’s good for the bottom line. We also know that our employees lead incredibly busy lives, and that balancing family, work and other obligations is an ongoing challenge. Finding time for fitness can be difficult.”

Lack of time is the number one barrier to sticking to a regular exercise routine, said Bellin Women’s Half Marathon Race Director Linda Maxwell.

With that in mind, race organizers are offering two free weekly training runs to accommodate busy schedules. The Wednesday runs begin at 6 a.m. at Bellin Health Bellevue, 3263 Eaton Road. Saturday training runs begin at 7 a.m. at the same location.

Any city employee who wishes may begin work as late as 10 a.m. and adjust her schedule accordingly on Wednesdays in order to participate in the runs, Schmitt said. The adjustment isn’t time off, but rather a scheduling accommodation the city is making to underscore its commitment to workforce health and wellness — and to lead by example for area companies.

“I strongly encourage other Green Bay employers to allow employees, just once a week, to adjust their schedules to accommodate these free training runs,” Schmitt said. “It’s the right thing to do for individual employees, and for your workforce as a whole.”

In addition to the mayor’s challenge, Maxwell on Thursday announced Corporate Challenge incentives for area companies that get involved in the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon:

• Participants, volunteers and team captains from the three Corporate Challenge companies that have the greatest percentage* of employee participation will be invited to a special Healthy Tailgate Party that includes a Green Bay Packers player appearance.

*Companies with fewer than 25 employees are not eligible for the Healthy Tailgate Party. Captains from these companies will receive all other perks associated with being a captain.

• Individuals — male or female — who are interested in becoming corporate team captains can earn a variety of incentives by recruiting participants for the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon. Interested parties can email BellinWomensHalf@bellin.org for details.

Dubbed “a race to empower women,” the inaugural Bellin Women’s Half Marathon, presented by Lilly, will take place Saturday, Sept. 26. The only event of its kind in Northeast Wisconsin, the race seeks to celebrate and motivate female athletes of all levels and abilities. The focus also provides an opportunity to spotlight training and health issues specifically related to women. More information is available at www.bellinwomenshalf.com.