University of Pennsylvania
IN-27: Innovation D

As part of the Executive Vice President's commitment to the health and wellness of the Penn community, a number of initiatives have been instituted across the University to help cultivate a culture of wellness and total well-being. Engaging in the Executive Vice President’s wellness and work-life resources supports employees year-round, and through the changing stages of life and careers. Most notable is the annual “Be in the Know” wellness campaign which provides financial incentives to learn more about individual health status and take action steps to maintain or improve well-being. Through this campaign, eligible Penn employees can earn rewards for making changes to or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The campaign is divided into three steps for success: biometric screens, an online health assessment, and bonus actions. Inclusion in the program requires a free biometric screening in which the key indicators of health status (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar) are assess and participants receive immediate feedback. Following this screening, employees completed an online health assessment in which employees fill in basic health-related habits. After completion, employees earn the first $100 incentive. From there, employees can choose from a menu of options to earn the remaining $200. Options include, but are not limited to smoking cessation programs, annual doctors’ appointments, annual eye exams, nutrition counseling, self-reported exercise, verified physical activity, and many others. In addition, returning participants will be included in a drawing for additional prizes, further incentivizing participation in health conscious behaviors. Full details of this program can be found here (https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/wellness-worklife/be-in-the-know) In addition, the two items below provide examples of the breadth of the additional programs, but do not cover initiatives in their entirety. • Through the campus-wide "Healthy Penn Partnership", options are available for staff and faculty to help maintain or develop a healthy lifestyle. (http://www.cphi.upenn.edu/HealthyPenn.html) • Eligible faculty and staff, can participate in the "Penn Healthy You" program, which provides workshops, wellness walks, free fitness classes, and nutrition counseling to make healthy choices easier for employees and their families. (https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/wellness-worklife/penn-healthy-you) In addition, to the “Healthy Penn Partnership” and “Penn Healthy You” programs, Penn’s award winning work-life programs help Penn community members balance the demands of work and home. Services such as back-up care for children and adults, lactation support services (lactation rooms and breast pumps are available at workplaces across campus), flexible work schedules, senior care planning, mental health support, among others, help the Penn community member thrive in all of life’s important roles. In addition, confidential counseling services from the "Employee Assistance Program" can help Penn community members manage changes and challenges as they arise. A full description of the program can be found here https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/wellness-worklife.