BOSTON, March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock
has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by
the American Heart Association for helping employees with their
total wellbeing.
"Physical activity and employee wellness are important
priorities at John Hancock. We are honored and excited to be
recognized by the American Heart Association as either a Gold- or
Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite for the past eight years,"
said Maria Fraga, head of Global
Benefits and Wellness for Manulife/John Hancock. "This speaks to
our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our employees and to
our customers because when we are at our best, we are in the best
position to deliver on our promises to our customers."
Platinum-level employers:
- Offer employees physical activity options in the
workplace.
- Increase healthy eating options at the worksite.
- Promote a wellness culture in the workplace.
- Implement at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart
Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and
culture.
- Demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace
wellness.
John Hancock embraces a culture
of wellbeing where employees are encouraged to make time for
exercise, eating right and stress relief. The company has a
wellness team to support employee health and wellbeing with the
goal of offering a consistent health management program for its
employees and providing the support, environment, education, tools,
resources and programs to help each person optimize his or her
state of health with measurable results.
The company offers a comprehensive, integrated employee wellness
program that provides a significant number of physical activity,
nutritional and stress management resources, including webinars,
online content, nutritional courses, and decision support
tools. This includes on-site subsidized fitness centers
offering a wide variety of fitness classes (e.g. aerobics, yoga,
pilates, spinning, sculpt & tone, zumba, etc.), exercise
equipment and personal trainers. The company provides a fitness
reimbursement program which covers the cost of membership, up to
$400 annually, for gym memberships,
exercise/fitness classes led by a certified instructor, Weight
Watchers, and tobacco cessation programs, and is available to all
benefits-eligible employees regardless of location.
John Hancock also offers a
variety of seminars on physical activity, nutrition, stress
management, financial wellness and promotes the information
contained within the AHA website. Cafeterias offer healthy food
options labeled as such and has converted all vending machines to
offer 90 percent healthy choices. The Fit-Friendly Worksites
program is a catalyst for positive change in the American workforce
by helping worksites make their employees' health and well-being a
priority.
American employers are losing an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of healthcare
expenses and health-related losses in productivity, and those
numbers are rising. Many American adults spend most of their waking
hours at sedentary jobs. Their lack of regular physical activity
raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity,
high blood pressure and diabetes. Employers face $12.7 billion in annual medical expenses due to
obesity alone. The American Heart Association is working to change
corporate cultures by motivating employees to start walking, which
has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.
"Research shows that the benefits of a healthier lifestyle
include improved productivity and performance in all aspects of our
lives," said Fraga. "We want to help our employees make their
health a priority and we take a holistic approach by supporting
their physical, emotional and financial wellness."
For more information about the Fit-Friendly Worksites program
and how it's helping to improve the health of Americans by focusing
on the workplace, call Stefanie
Smith at 781-373-4501 or visit
heart.org/worksitewellness.
About the American Heart Association
The American
Heart Association is devoted to building healthier lives, free of
cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Our mission drives everything
we do. To improve the lives of all Americans, we provide public
health education in a variety of ways. We team with millions of
volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public
health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to
prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's
oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting
heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call
1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit
heart.org.
About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John
Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with
principal operations in Asia,
Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife in
Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in
the United States, our group of
companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection
products and wealth management services through its extensive
network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Assets
under management and administration by Manulife and its
subsidiaries were $977 billion (US
$728 billion) as at December 31, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation
trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the
SEHK. Manulife can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.
The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies,
comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range
of financial products, including life insurance, annuities,
investments, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college
savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional
information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.
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SOURCE John Hancock Financial