Episode 16 Meet Betty, the Driver Behind the Evolution of FIT2order’s Wellness Programs

For 11 years, FIT2order has provided corporate wellness programs that engage employees in healthy behaviors—fitness classes, nutrition seminars, weight loss challenges. Participation rates are the standard measure of success for these programs. Over the years, FIT2order has, unwittingly, developed an additional, “bigger picture” metric. Meet Betty. Betty is our internal, subjective and toughest standard by which we evaluate our programs, and she generates quite a bit of discussion. The metric looks like this, “Is Betty participating? Is she engaged? Is Betty bored?”

Betty represents the quintessential seasoned Desk Jockey. Perhaps she is the receptionist or call center representative, or maybe she is the Executive VP of Human Resources. Whatever her title, Betty sits most hours of her work day and, aside from bathroom breaks, finds it difficult to peel away from her desk. Because of her sedentary work-lifestyle, like most desk jockeys, Betty has creeping weight gain and her latest blood work reveals that she is pre-diabetic. Her insurance company would call her a yellow light—someone who is in the moderate health risk category--and is quickly approaching the red light, or high-risk category. Red lighters are employees with one or more chronic condition. Their conditions dig deep not only into the employee’s pockets, but to those of the company’s. 

And the kicker, at least for FIT2order—Betty does NOT want to engage in onsite wellness activities. This is exactly why Betty makes a great metric for us. We know that if the Bettys—the yellow lights--of your company are participating, the elusive Behavior Change gets set into motion, or, as we like to call it, the Ripple of Effect of Change begins, elevating both Betty’s health and your work culture.

Listen to what we’ve learned about corporate wellness programs from Betty....