We had a blast kicking off the Year of Worksite Wellness here in Minnesota. Today’s events at the Capitol included an official proclamation, words from legislators, health advice from sponsors, and more. Thanks to all who helped make this happen. Let’s be our healthiest this year, Minnesota!
Take the CEO Pledge – Year of Worksite Wellness
2014 is the Year of Worksite Wellness here in Minnesota! Ready to get involved?
Then join Chuck Runyon, CEO of Anytime Fitness, and take the IHRSA CEO Pledge!
So what’s the CEO Pledge, you ask?Continue Reading …
Target Advances Culture of Well-Being With HealthLead™ Accreditation
Target is among the first companies to achieve accreditation in US Healthiest’s HealthLead™ program, an emerging standard in workplace health promotion.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (far left) moderated the HealthLead™ discussion between panelists (from left to right) Jodee Kozlak, Jim Harter and Nick Baird at Target headquarters in Minneapolis.
The search for a definitive actuarial link between worksite wellness programs and reduced insurance risk may well emerge from HealthLead™, a rigorous new wellness accreditation program that last year was alpha-tested by Target.
A panel of national wellness experts convened on April 30 in an auditorium at Target’s national headquarters in Minneapolis to discuss the program for an audience of more than 200 leaders in business, public health and academia.
The event was hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota and moderated by Senator Amy Klobuchar, co-chair of the Congressional Wellness Caucus. Panelists included Nick Baird, M.D., CEO of US Healthiest; Jodee Kozlak, Target’s VP of Human Resources; and Jim Harter, Ph.D, chief scientist of Workplace Management and Well-being for Gallup’s workplace management practice.
Are You a Marathon Sitter?
If your job requires hours of sitting at a desk, take note: there is mounting evidence that links long periods of sitting with an increased risk of heart disease. The longer you sit, the greater your risk.
Fortunately, you can reduce that risk greatly by consciously standing and moving multiple times per day — ideally for at least a few minutes every hour. In a St. Louis University Medical Center press release, Occupational Therapist Julia Henderson-Kalb states that those few minutes of exercise will not only help your body, but it will also keep your mind and memory sharp, which can improve your productivity on the job.
To discover Henderson-Kalb’s eight tips for moving more at work, read this article from Everyday Health.
Dakota County Regional Chamber Offers BizicallyFIT™ Portal to Members
The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce is among the first in the state to offer the BizicallyFIT™ portal, a robust new program that will offer area businesses the information and tools they need to seize the benefits of workplace wellness. Seventy-five percent of employers’ health care costs are related to employee lifestyle choices and forward-thinking employers of all sizes are taking steps to help employees embrace healthier lifestyles. The BizicallyFIT™ portal is powered by the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota and accessible to chamber members directly through the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce website.
“Over the past several years, health care costs have been a serious issue for our members. We are excited to offer them tools and information they need to encourage and support employee health, regardless of their size, time or budget constraints,” said Ruthe Batulis, President, Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The BizicallyFIT portal is creating a community of employers throughout Minnesota to share information, best practices and tools. The Dakota County Regional Chamber is proud to lead the way as an early-adopter of BizicallyFIT.”