The American Heart Association’s Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program recognizes businesses for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace. Southern Illinois Healthcare has been recognized by the American Heart Association since 2010.

“Providing a healthy environment for our employees is a priority for us,” said Rex Budde, CEO of Southern Illinois Healthcare. “Workplace wellness is an area critical to our overall health. Having healthier employees is a win-win for the company and the employees.”

Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program participants implement various options to encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements such as on-site walking routes, healthy food options in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments and online tracking tools.

Adult Americans spend the majority of their waking hours at work, many in sedentary careers — amplifying the risk for medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“Time constraints and job responsibilities are employees’ biggest obstacles to exercising. That’s why the Start! Fit-Friendly Companies program encourages employers to allow employees to walk while at work,” said Beth Walker, Corporate Events Director with the American Heart Association. “Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.”

Furthermore, studies suggest that implementing a worksite physical activity program and promoting a culture of physical activity will help companies increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower turnover and reduce hard costs.

Start! is sponsored nationally by SUBWAY® restaurants and locally by Southern Illinois Healthcare, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Black Diamond Harley-Davidson.