We aim to produce good food, responsibly. Therefore, it makes sense for us to promote good health among our employees. We have a variety of programs across our locations to challenge our workers to take better care of themselves; in many instances, we offer incentives to promote participation.
For example, Smithfield Packing recently started a high-risk pregnancy program to encourage female employees to obtain prenatal care early on in their pregnancies. Participants receive free books, infant car seats when the baby is born, and other incentives when they follow through with appropriate medical care. Farmland and John Morrell offer pregnant employees a $100 gift certificate when they enroll in a pregnancy care program through the company’s insurance provider.
Many of our locations have installed blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors for employee use. After installation of the machines at four Farmland facilities, for example, many workers at those plants discovered they have high blood pressure and are now being treated for conditions that may otherwise have gone undetected.
Other health and wellness programs available at independent operating company locations may include health/benefit fairs, mandatory flu shots for workers during flu season, weight loss clinics, on-site health clubs, smoking cessation, and diabetes management programs with health coaches available to guide diabetic workers on meal plans, medications, and other important health tips related to better management of the disease.
All of these programs aim to improve the health of our workers. At the same time, they have also helped us succeed in lowering our company health benefit costs.
