On Friday, June 10, Van Mitchell, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, presented a Silver level Wellness at Work award to Southern Maryland Electrical Cooperative and an On the Path award to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in recognition of their exemplary accomplishments in work-site health promotion.

The Wellness at Work Awards took place as part of the 7th annual Maryland Workplace Health & Wellness Symposium at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum Heights. Easton Utilities was one of 42 businesses to receive an award. “This award is a direct reflection of our collective commitment to prioritize wellness and the level of participation in our program is exceptional,” said Hugh E. Grunden, President and CEO of Easton Utilities.

The Wellness at Work Awards are sponsored by Healthiest Maryland Businesses, the state’s initiative to support healthy workplaces. Employers may earn a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or On the Path award. To be eligible for an award, businesses are required to establish leadership support for wellness, create wellness committees, survey the needs and interests of their employees, set health improvement goals, and develop monitoring tools to track their outcomes over time.

 

Launched in 2010 and based at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Healthiest Maryland Businesses helps businesses create customized wellness plans, set wellness goals and monitor progress. Six regional coordinators around the state provide personalized guidance to businesses of all sizes. To date, over 460 businesses have signed on to take advantage of this program.

 

Photo: MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Accepting their On the Path Award

Pictured are: Andrea Hamilton

Photo: SMECO accepting their Silver Award

Pictured are: Paulette Ager, Crystal Jackson, Van Mitchell, Victoria St. Arnold