Member Spotlight: Norway Savings Bank

“The Gold Award is reflective of the commitment, investment and results we have demonstrated through our wellness efforts,” said Patricia Weigel, President of Norway Savings Bank. “A strong wellness program enhances the quality of life for our employees and contributes toward managing our health care, our health care costs and our health insurance premiums. Our employees are very engaged and involved with our wellness program, and we are very proud of our accomplishments.”

Norway was pleased to team up with Occupational Medical Consulting (OMC) to develop a one-on-one, behavior based wellness program.  Through OMC’s wellness program, bank employees meet with a dedicated health coach throughout the year to complete a health risk assessment and on‐site biometric screening, as well as to set and track personal health and wellness goals. Norway Savings Bank also has a Safety and Wellness Committee that is dedicated to making the bank a safer and healthier workplace through new and ongoing objectives geared towards employee education, awareness, intervention and results. To date, overall participation in the wellness program is at 97% and the bank has already seen an improvement in its aggregate risk data scores in less than two years.

 “Our partnership with OMC has given us the opportunity to implement a behavior-based and results-oriented approach to wellness.  Employees meet one-on-one with a trained personal-health-coach.  They set and achieve small behavior changes reducing health risks.  The approach has given us a tangible means for measuring results and building targeted wellness programs and initiatives” says Richelle Wallace, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Norway Savings Bank.

Richelle Wallace, SPHR, Senior VP of Human Resources receiving the Gold Well Workplace Award from Dr. Hunnicutt, President of WELCOA

Norway employees recognize that there are hurdles that need to be jumped when confronted with healthy behavior changes. Whether it was genetic predispositions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, or CVD, or lack of physical activity, all of these factors played a role when realizing a healthy behavior change needed to occur.  Norway took this task by the horns. With a combination of seeing their OMC health coach, practicing moderation, increases in physical activity and exercise, and dietary modifications, Norway Savings became a spokesperson for health and wellness.

Norway Savings found wellness in creative ways.  From healthier food options, educational sessions on coping with stress, weight loss programs, various physical activity challenges to Zumba and Xbox Kinect, they made their goals happen. Employees went from walking to participating in a 10k, from junk food diets to vegetarians, even participating in a triathlon; no bar was too high for this group. Norway Savings also recruited “Wellness Warriors” within the bank to serve as ambassadors for the wellness program and build excitement.

Norway Savings Bank employees, with their OMC Health Coach, showing their passion for health

All of this effort didn’t go un-rewarded. With reports of increased energy, decreases in clothing sizes, actually having withdrawals from running after a few days without, reduced sick days, these are all the benefits money can’t buy, but what Norway employees received for making a commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

It is clear that Norway Savings Bank has made wellness an integral part of their business and you can expect more positive change to come from of this Maine employer as they work to be recognized as a Platinum Well Workplace.  Read more about their employee success stories and see how employees are recognized for their hard work here.

About Norway Savings Bank

Norway Savings Bank provides colorful banking solutions and serves the communities of Western and Southern Maine with 21 locations.  Just as important to the bank as their customers and communities are their 260 employees.  Norway strives every day to provide a challenging, rewarding and healthful work environment.  Wellness has been a priority for a number of years and is part of the bank’s values.