Local Business, Town Workers Engaging In Healthy Programs

By John Voket

For Don Droppo, Jr, the idea of helping his Curtis Packaging employees improve their health was a no-brainer. And after proposing something of a “biggest loser” competition among his staff that shifted the focus from individuals to teams, he could not be happier with the result.

At the same time, about a mile west of Mr Droppo’s Sandy Hook plant, Heath District Director Donna Culbert was planning initiatives to help the town’s workforce enhance its well-being. Ms Culbert helped establish a smoking cessation program for town workers, family members and others, which commenced April 12.

And for the second year in a row, she helped inspire more than a dozen municipal employees to lace up their sneakers for a quick spin around the Fairfield Hills campus April 4 — the American Heart Association’s National Walking Day.

As stationary or sedentary activities continue to contribute to America’s expanding waistlines, and increasing demands of the workplace sap time and energy from what otherwise might be more active and healthy lifestyles, this local business and the town government are both setting an example by refocusing on the holistic well-being of employees.

While some may view providing work time for exercise or smoking cessation, or cash incentives to lose weight, as inappropriate, Mr Droppo sees programs like the one at Curtis as being critical to the retention and morale of his workforce.

“I’m very proud of our employee participation and look forward to doing something fun again in the future,” he told The Bee following a rally at the Curtis plant April 3 where he announced that nearly half of the workforce participated in the weight loss competition.

Mr Droppo said the biggest loser idea was generated by a note dropped in the company suggestion box last winter, and that idea blossomed to include 21 teams encompassing 63 participants, which represented a 41 percent participation rate. He said every Monday the teams would weigh themselves together on the company’s freight scale.

“That way one’s individual weight wasn’t known, and to make the contest fair, we compared teams by the overall percentage of weight loss,” Mr Droppo said. Through the friendly competition, Mr Droppo became convinced that his entire staff was gaining a greater appreciation for “eating healthy, exercise — even if it’s walking 15–20 minutes a day and making sure you get the appropriate amount of sleep.”

He also promoted National Start Walking Day, and committed to providing each employee a flier about beginning or maintaining a healthy walking regiment from the American Heart Association, which was inserted into each employee’s paycheck envelope.

During the recognition ceremony, Mr Droppo first recognized “The Fabulous 3” comprising Rebecca Marshall, Beth Scherer, and Janet Medina, who collectively lost seven pounds. He gave that team a joke prize of a case of weight loss shakes.

The third place team lost 77 pounds, the second place trio dropped 54 pounds collectively, while the first place team in the Curtis Packaging competition lost 99 pounds.

Ms Culbert, who attended the Curtis event, expressed how proud she was of the entire company’s commitment to getting healthier, and invited Curtis staff to come “up the hill” to enjoy the walking trails at Fairfield Hills.

According to healcitiescampaign.org, municipalities can reduce the burden of employee health care costs by helping their employees overcome obesity and overweight — the primary contributors to preventable chronic diseases that account for more than 75 percent of health care expenditures.

Besides the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society offers a program and support for communities, businesses, or individuals who are looking to begin or enhance a daily exercise routine, Ms Culbert said.

The American Cancer Society’s Employer Initiative Workplace Solutions programs are customized to fit specific needs and have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line. The ACS effort engages and energizes employees with everything from evidence-based health and wellness programs that help reduce their risk of cancer and other serious illnesses, to opportunities to participate in well-known community events such as the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which is being held in Newtown on June 1.

Ms Culbert also helped Newtown achieve the Heart Association’s Heart Safe Community designation last year.

“It is a big concern for us, because cardiovascular disease and stroke are the number one killer in Connecticut,” Ms Culbert previously told The Bee. And the Health District, with underwriting from a block grant, has initiated the first of what may become regular smoking cessation programs for town employees and other members of the Newtown community.