1. Center for Urban Transportation Research
HEALTHY EMPLOYEES AND ABSENTEEISM 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM 101C (Ocean Center) Stephen Berry, LYNX - Orlando Rob Gregg, CUTR – USF/Tampa
Supported by
Center for Urban Transportation Research

2. Florida Operations Network

3. Please Identify the Happy / Healthy Transit EmployeeB

4. When you are Healthy and Happy: Impact on Work?
Attendance
Attitude
Morale
Motivation
Alertness
Reduction of at Risk
Less Stress
Focus
Friendly
Productivity
Camaraderie
Career Longevity

5. Why Driver Health is Important
Drivers are the largest number of employees in public transportation organizations
Healthy drivers support the retention and long term careers
Absenteeism adds significant costs to operation budgets. It consumes time and resources in terms of organization and service delivery

6. Some Statistics
Passenger transit workers* are more likely to have several diseases:
79 % higher chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)
70 % higher lower extremity vascular problems
63 % higher diabetes
37 % higher carpal tunnel syndrome
32 % higher asthma
29 % higher shoulder problems
28 % higher blood pressure
25% higher depression
23 % higher cardiovascular problems
19 % higher low back pain
13 % higher gastrointestinal problems
*includes all types of bus drivers, as well as commuter rail, streetcar, subway, van pool, airport limousine, taxi, and ambulance drivers
Source: Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies

7. Health Targets Lack of Physical Activity Unhealthy Diet
Uncontrolled Hypertension
Obesity
Uncontrolled Diabetes
Stress
Poor Back Care
Drug / Alcohol Use
High Cholesterol
Fatigue
Transit Cooperative Research Program: Transit Operator Health and Wellness Programs

8. Health Risk Contributing Factors
Sitting position for several hours
Limited opportunities to eat
Limited opportunities to use the restroom
Conflicting task demands
Stress from traffic
Stress from customer service
Low Autonomy and Support (limited connection to Management)

9. Ways to Improve Driver Health
Ergonomics of the driver area
Driving shift 
Supervision
Make it easier for bus drivers to be healthy (Best Practices)

10. Ergonomics Position and adjustment of seat Steering wheel and pedals
Visibility and marking of the dashboard
Adjustability for larger and smaller drivers
Adequate training (when introducing new bus models)

11. Scheduling Consistent schedule Adequate periods of rest between shifts
Forward rotation of shifts (e.g. morning shift, day shift, night shift)
Two days off in a row

12. Work Environment/ Management
Division of drivers into working groups with assigned supervisor
Supportive style leadership where drivers have a point of management contact for voicing concerns and learning about new management initiatives

13. Best Practices Wellness Programs Onsite Exercise Equipment
Healthy lunch options near driver breakrooms
Agency sponsored activities (e.g. sports)
Incentive programs (e.g. gift certificates)

14. HART – Hillsborough County
On-site fitness room with classes (e.g. Zumba & Yoga)
Wellness club with incentives
Exercise events (e.g. 5k Area Walks, Dodgeball Volleyball)
Biometric screening (lower rates on premiums)
Online coaching through Cigna
Group weight loss program

15. HART Wellness Club Holds several health events and classes a year
Participants earn points for attendance
Points can be redeemed at the Wellness Store for prizes (e.g. LCD TV or Grill)
Digital Scavenger Hunt
Stress
Volleyball dodgeball
Diabetes
Healthy Lunch Event
Colon Cancer
Financial Seminar
Preventive Health

16. RTS- Gainesville Shares program with the city of Gainesville:
Multiple employee exercise facilities in the city
Pro club offers points for fitness, lifestyle choices, and annual health assessment; points reduce premiums
Offers disease awareness programs
Information on exercise and nutrition

17. RTS Gainesville

18. RTS Gainesville

19. MCAT- Manatee County The Your Choice Manatee Health Plan:
Pays for employee gym memberships
Programs are offered in weightless, tobacco cessation, nutrition, diabetes prevention, mental health, and fitness
Participating employees earn health bucks to use towards medical visits/ prescriptions
The program offers access to several preventive healthcare professionals including: Health Coaches, Nurse advocates, personal trainers, and nutritionists

20. Manatee Your Choice

21. Space Coast Transit-
Spring and Fall Health Fairs – which include free biometric screening
Weight Watchers and weight loss challenges
On-site gym open early till late
Discounts at several local gym memberships
Classes in smoking cessation, healthy eating and exercise
Free flu shots during open enrollment
Mini-health fairs that start early for our employees

22. Wellness Program ROI Johnson and Johnson conducted a study (2002-2008)
Determined for every $ 1 dollar invested $2.71 are saved
Another Study of 185 high health risk employees at a single employer (Milani and Lavie)
57% of high risk employees went to low risk
$ 1,421 saved per participant on average were
$6 ROI per $1 spent

23. Improved Attendance
MD Anderson Cancer Center created a workers’ compensation and injury care unit within its employee health and well-being department, staffed by a physician and a nurse case manager. Within Six years:
Lost work days declined by 80%
Modified-duty days reduced by 64%.
Workers’ comp insurance premiums declined by 50%.
Cost savings totaled $1.5 million (reduction in lost work days multiplied by average pay rates)

24. Benefits for Employee
Increased well-being, self-image, and self-esteem
Improved coping skills with stress or other factors affecting health
Improved health status
Lower costs for acute health issues
Lower out of pocket costs for health care services (e.g. reduced premiums; deductibles; co- payments)
Increased access to health promotion resources and social support
Improved job satisfaction
Safer and more supportive work environment
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

25. Wellness Programs: What are the general steps for implementing a program?
Establish the goal of the wellness program.
Decide the company’s level of involvement in the program.
Establish the budget and expected return on investment (ROI).
Choose employee rewards.
Write and communicate the policy/program. 

26. How can a wellness program benefit employers?
Wellness programs can benefit employers by:
Lowering health care costs.
Reducing absenteeism.
Achieving higher employee productivity.
Reducing workers’ compensation and disability-related costs.
Reducing injuries. 

29. Manager of Transportation Operations
Stephen Berry
Manager of Transportation Operations