SCOTTSDALE, AZ--Who should know better about healthful lifestyles than a hospital and its employees? Yet, like the cobbler's children, hospital employees are often left to their own devices. That's not the case at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, where its unique "Be Fit" program has helped more than 890 employees improve their health habits since the program's inception 2 years ago.

MGH was recognized for its achievements Thursday at the Work-Life 2007 Conference & Exhibition. Along with co-winners the U.S. Patent Trademark Office and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Austin, Texas, it was given the Work-Life Innovative Excellence Award. The award was granted by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP), a WorldatWork affiliate.

The hospital's program has as its core a 10-week nutrition and fitness curriculum where employee teams compete in such categories as weight loss, total number of workouts, and number of food records kept.

It also includes healthful cafeteria choices, monthly nutrition seminars, meditation sessions, daily walks, and discounted membership at MGH-owned health clubs. There are resources on a website which even includes a blog for members to share information and ask questions.

MGH is formally evaluating the program by adding a research team from Harvard Medical School to collect and analyze data over a period of 3 years. The objective of the program is to decrease MGH's long-term health insurance expense by sustaining healthful habits for its workers.

U.S. Trademark Program Encourages Workers to Stay Home

Another winner was the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which encourages its trademark attorneys to work from home, and 85 percent of its eligible examining attorneys now do so.

USPTO's goals were to attract and maintain high quality staff, accommodate space needs, and reduce commuter traffic. The program has measurable performance goals and has attained objectives in all three. A major feature of the program is its use of "hotel" office space, which provides employees with office space when they do come to the office.

The program is slated to be used as a model program for other government agencies.

Transit Agency's Program Reduces Absenteeism by 44 Percent

Austin's Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CMTA) was the third recipient of the award. The CMTA operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many of its employees, who work non-traditional hours, were having difficulty focusing on their own wellness needs. As a result, poor nutrition and lack of exercise were contributing to obesity and stress.

CMTA set a goal of becoming the healthiest workplace in the Austin area. Its program includes a 24-hour fitness center, coupled with a health-options cafeteria, and an on-site childcare and learning center with flexible hours that is priced 15 percent below comparable local centers.

In granting the award, the AWLP praised the transportation authority, stating that "Since its debut in 2003, absenteeism has dropped by 44 percent. Morale has greatly improved."

The presentations were made the AWLP's 2007 conference, held Feb. 21 to 23 in Scottsdale, Arizona.