Daily Archives: February 14, 2012
Oak Forest, IL, January 31, 2012 – According to a recent study, a shocking 86 percent of transportation professionals in the U.S. are overweight or obese. And, another study has shown that bus drivers are more likely than the average worker to experience chest pain, high blood pressure, digestive disorders and death from heart and arterial disease.
John Hayden, 63, of Calumet City, is a school bus driver for Cook-Illinois Corporation’s Grand Prairie Transit-Willow Springs subsidiary. He is one of a growing number of drivers fighting that statistic, one pound at a time, thanks to the Oak Forest-based company’s new wellness program.
With a 34-pound weight loss over a three-month period last year, Hayden won the subsidiary’s “Biggest Loser” competition and took home the grand prize of $250. “Even if no money were involved, I still would have done it,” he explains. “It was nice winning money, don’t get me wrong, but it was worth it just losing the weight.” Prior to his weight loss, Hayden suffered from high blood pressure and other health issues which have now been resolved.
“At any given time, almost two percent of our employees are missing work due to some type of medical reason,” explains Steve Miller, Human Resource manager for Cook-Illinois Corporation. “In the past year, almost 60 employees had to resign because of medical issues. We’re talking about diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Many are not just missing work, but cutting their lives short.”
Cook-Illinois Corporation, a family owned and operated business with 2,700 school bus drivers and monitors, and more than 300 office and shop personnel, has empowered a ‘wellness captain’ at each of its 19 suburban school bus subsidiaries. To date, the company has invested over $22,000 in programs to improve drivers’ health.
Earlier this month, the company launched a discounted membership program with Charter Fitness, enabling employees to pay just $10 per month. The company contributes another $10 per month for the premium membership, allowing participants to work out at any club location, get personalized training and bring a “buddy” to work out with. In addition, Cook-Illinois has removed junk food and soda pop from its subsidiaries’ vending machines and replaced it with healthier food choices in drivers’ break rooms. Walking clubs have been established in many locations so that drivers can exercise between morning and afternoon routes, typically down time for school bus drivers.
“I’ve lost 8 1/2 to 9 pounds in the program so far and my goal is 30,” says Andy Townsend, a driver for Grant Prairie Transit – Willow Springs. “I feel good just waking up in the morning now.”
Townsend’s manager, Terry Boxel, sees other benefits to the wellness program too. “More people are getting along,” she explains. “People who never used to talk, now have the opportunity to get to know one another in a healthy way.” Currently, 27 Grand Prairie Transit-Willow Springs employees have taken advantage of the gym membership.
Drew Tierney, Manager of the American School Bus-Frankfort subsidiary, has noticed that drivers are starting to compete with their company-issued pedometers to see who walks the most each day. “The employees are taking advantage of this program,” he explains. “Before, they used to sit, talk and socialize in between shifts. Now that it is starting to get cold, we provide a car to take the walkers to a mall nearby.”
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