Do You Have a Healthy Workplace? Get Recognized and Rewarded!

We know there are a lot of workplaces, both big and small, across the state who understand the role they play in improving the health and wellness of their employees.

We know this because of the nearly 100 companies who have signed up to become a 5-2-1-0 Registered Workplace. We know this because of the 350+ worksites who participated in the Healthiest State Annual Walk on Wednesday, October 2. We know this because of the incredible and inspiring applications we receive each year during the Healthiest State Annual Awards nomination process.

The Healthiest State Initiative wants to recognize and reward workplaces in Greater Des Moines (DSM), including for-profit, nonprofit, government or colleges/universities, for their efforts to make the healthy choice the easy choice for employees. We want to hear about the innovative ways you are helping Iowans live happier and healthier lives!

Remember, this looks different in every workplace. A large corporation may be able to provide a state-of-the-art fitness center, healthy options in the cafeteria and an on-site mental health clinic. However, a smaller company can still make a difference by organizing an employee step challenge, providing healthy snacks for meetings or educating employees on the EAP program.

[Learn more about workplace wellness with the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s GetActive Toolkit.]

Do You Qualify as a Healthy Workplace?

Applications must demonstrate how the workplace has made policy, systems and environment changes that align with the Healthiest State Initiative's mission of improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of Iowans. More simply put: How is your workplace helping employees eat well, move more and feel better?

Previous Award Winners

Here are award-winning examples from two DSM-based companies.

Des Moines University

Des Moines University was the 2019 Healthiest State Annual Award winner in the Large Workplace category. As a medical and health sciences intuition, wellness is one of the university’s core values for students, faculty and staff. Their application highlighted their “Wellness Pays” incentive program which provides financial rewards to employees who participate in health-promoting and activities. Their expansive gym and wellness center is also well-utilized and the campus has added weekly CSA deliveries to expand access to fresh produce.

Meredith Corporation

Meredith Corporation was the 2018 Healthiest State Annual Award winner in the Large Workplace category. Their application highlighted their year-round wellness program which allows employees and their families to access medical plans with lower deductibles and premiums. There are also several weight-management programs available to employees with more hands-on coaching. Meredith also has an on-site fitness center and had recently upgraded their drinking fountains to water bottle filling stations to encourage employees to drink more water.

Both Des Moines University and Meredith Corporation received $1,000 with their award. They both decided to spend their prize funds on wellness-related projects that would better the communities where their employees live and work. Des Moines University partnered with Central Iowa Shelter & Services to provide volunteers and funding in order to support the shelter’s on-site garden. Meredith Corporation partnered with Hy-Vee and Children & Family Urban Movement to provide a cooking demonstration, healthy meal and kitchen supplies to families served by the after-school program.

Other DSM companies who have been recognized as finalists since 2018 include: Merchants Bonding Company (Small Workplace), DLL Finance (Medium Workplace) and Kemin Industries (Large Workplace).

Apply for the Healthiest State Annual Award

Do you think your workplace is deserving of a Healthiest State Annual Award?

Award applications are now open and will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5. Finalists will be announced in early 2020 and winners will be announced at the Annual Awards reception at Hy-Vee’s Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines on Thursday, February 6, 2020. Each winner will be awarded a monetary prize to contribute towards a health and wellness-related project that benefits employees or the community.

Named as the #3 Best Place to Live in the U.S. and #7 Best City for Living the American Dream, Greater Des Moines (DSM) is the fastest growing metro in the Midwest. Learn more about what it’s like to live here.