A total of 84 cities and public entities demonstrated their commitment to employee health promotion and met the stringent standards set forth for the award. Each of these cities are part of AWC's Employee Benefit Trust, a health insurance pool that provides coverage to over 13,000 city employees across the state. As a result of earning the designation, WellCity Award recipients will receive a 2% premium discount on their Regence BlueShield Health medical coverage in 2014. This is roughly equivalent to a 1% property tax in the City of Anacortes.
"I'm proud of our employees who understand the value of wellness and the positive impact it can have on their physical and mental well being. City employees also understand the cost savings impact that earning this award has on our City budget. We are lucky to have a devoted wellness committee who promote programs that appeal to a diverse population." said Emily Schuh, City Human Resources Director.
"We're pleased to be able to offer a financial incentive for cities to promote health and well-being among their staffs," said Mike McCarty, AWC CEO. "We know from experience that many cities making this level of commitment also find their employees are more productive, have higher morale, and experience fewer injuries and absences. That's a win-win for everyone."
The award recipients demonstrated their commitment by creating policies, committees, and champions at the locallevel that focused on topics such as: work-life balance, healthy food , physical activity, personal care, and employee safety. Each community is encouraged to implement what works best for their employees, with an eye towards meeting the standards set forth by the program.
Founded in 1933, the Association of Washington Cities is a private, non-profit, non-partisan corporation that provides legislative representation , educational training, technical assistance, municipal liability insurance, health insurance and other services to Washington's cities and towns.