The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to educating, engaging, and empowering employees to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle to achieve their highest potential and optimal wellness by providing information, activities, and services designed to support positive attitudes and lifestyle choices.

The School District of Palm Beach County envisions an environment that educates employees on lifelong healthy living practices and health risk reduction through the integration of health promotion programs and resources. Employee Wellness is committed to sustaining a positive culture that will result in improved employee productivity and morale by focusing on enhancing the health, well-being and quality of life for employees, their family and the community.

Some recent Employee Wellness accomplishments include the following: engaging employees through disease management programs, value based plan designs with incentives for individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes resulting in cost savings of over $4.2 million, wellness rewards for encouraging health actions resulting in 89% participation, 188 wellness champions to drive participation and excitement in activities that have allowed employees to become more active in health and supportive of a culture of health, a tobacco free environment, and ongoing stress management seminars.

The School District has received several national awards for its wellness efforts. While healthcare costs continue to climb, it is exciting to report that the implemented programs are resulting in improved health within the District, helping to create cost savings. In 2014, most employer plans saw 7% to 10 % increases, while the District benefited from no employee paid medical premium increase.

By implementing the District’s successful wellness programs, steps are being taken to ensure that resources are maximized to provide a strong, healthy, happy, and productive organization. Encouraging staff to pursue a healthy lifestyle contributes to improved health status, improved morale, and a greater personal commitment to a culture of wellness and healthier school environments. Employees are then less stressed and more productive. The outcomes have proven to be cost saving, resulting in lower healthcare costs.