Aramark has been named one of America's "2012 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of large U.S. employers. The company is among an elite group of employers receiving the gold award honors and was recognized "for making cultural and environmental changes and developing comprehensive programs that support healthy lifestyle goals" among its employees.
"At Aramark, we have the commitment and the expertise to help educate, enable and encourage people of all ages to adopt healthier lifestyles," said Valerie Wandler, senior vice president, human resources services at Aramark in a prepared statement. "Our people are the cornerstone of our business. Investing in employee health and wellness through our Aramark Take Care program promotes a healthy, positive workforce that, in turn, better serves our clients and customers."
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Aramark has been recognized by the National Business Group on Health.
Helen Darling, president and CEO of the National Business Group on Health, commented: "We are very pleased to recognize Aramark for its ongoing commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs that encourage healthy lifestyles for their employees. Aramark and its management team should be proud of their dedication and recognizing the importance of promoting and maintaining a healthy workforce. We congratulate them on receiving this award."
Because Aramark touches millions of customers around the world each day, the company is well positioned to have a positive impact on the dining and healthy lifestyle choices of a broad audience of consumers. Throughout its operations, Aramark uses its knowledge, culinary expertise, and consumer input to empower healthier environments, experiences and outcomes. Aramark offers healthy food and beverage options to address nutrition and dietary priorities; promotes awareness through health and wellness education and outreach programs; conducts consumer research to study food, nutrition and health trends; and partners with leading nonprofit and governmental organizations to make a greater impact on public health.
Aramark 's Take Care program is designed to promote a culture of wellness among employees and their families, and to provide them with the plans, resources and tools to help with their health, family, finances and future. The wellness programs available through Take Care span all aspects of an employee's health, including physical and emotional well-being.
The program offers a full range of confidential, free resources and services, from preventive care to assistance with chronic illness. It includes Healthy Steps, which provides one-on-one personal nurse support to those with chronic health conditions, weight management, 24/7 Nurseline to help answer health questions, health assessments, and a smoking cessation program. It also provides a variety of employee assistance and counseling programs on everything from balancing work and personal life to mental health and substance abuse issues to prenatal health.