Building a better community through better health with Mede/ACTS
Interest in employee-sponsored volunteering programs is on the rise. According to a 2016 National Study on Satisfaction at Work, employees are drawn to employers who support charitable causes and community volunteering. In turn, employers are recognizing their role in spearheading philanthropic efforts. We recently connected with our very own Eric Roth, VP of Human Resources, to hear how MedeAnalytics approaches volunteerism in the workplace.
As a company dedicated to promoting employee wellness, MedeAnalytics launched Mede/ACTS in 2016, an initiative that helps give back to local, charitable organizations. Building off a previously existing wellness program, Mede/ACTS combines physical and community wellness into one. The premise is simple, but powerful: for each physical activity Mede employee’s complete – whether it’s yoga, biking, or kickboxing – senior leadership matches their efforts by contributing $1 for every 10,000 steps and for every 60 minutes of exercise that has been logged into wearables, fitness apps and FitBliss, a health & wellness technology platform available to all Mede employees. All the raised funds are donated to the charity of Mede/ACTS’ choice. Each quarter the charity varies; the Mede/ACTS committee selects charities that are nominated by Mede employees.
Leveraging their partnership with FitBliss, Mede converted activity completed in 2016 – roughly around 26 million steps – into a $4,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity, Alzheimer’s Association, breast cancer awareness non-profits and more. Similarly, during Q1 of 2017, there was a total of 7.1 million steps resulting in $1,005 charitable funds raised, which were donated to Doctors without Borders.
From its inception, participation in Mede/ACTS has been close to 70 percent. Employees wanted a program that combined physical and community wellness, as engagement has been at an all-time high. During the 2016 second quarter, 175 employees took part in the program. Most notably, brisk walking, generated the most participation. Though engagement is predominantly concentrated within the corporate headquarters Bay Area office, employees from Dallas and Nashville offices, as well as those who work remotely, are also engaging with Mede/ACTS. Remote employees find the program especially rewarding as it has fostered a stronger sense of community with their peers.
Mede/ACTS will continue their commitment to combining physical and community wellness. Look to the next quarterly Mede newsletter to find out the new charity that has been selected!
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