The insurance agency that believed in their staff
A business case study
A local insurance agency valued their employees and wanted to give them a convenient opportunity to enhance their lifestyles by partnering with me and my FIT Business program.
Nine of the 17 women in the office initially signed on to participate and they ranged in age between 27 and 55. Most had been living for their children, spouses, and families meanwhile neglecting their own health for years. As a result, many were inactive, overweight, and living with high stress. They lacked energy and chose poor-quality nutrition.
Management was hesitant and skeptical about the commitment level of these women because of three real challenges: Time, location, and no shower facilities.
These women agreed to give up their lunch hour three days per week to exercise in the outside carport and parking lot. The start date was a cold, dreary January.
They stuck with it.
After eight weeks they were hooked. They loved the physical changes they were seeing and their new-found energy. Because the program also included 1:1 and small-group coaching, they were applying their new tools to handle challenging situations and make other significant lifestyle improvements.
At the four-month mark (the initial trial period) these nine women were down over 50 inches and reported a 60% decrease in stress, a 30% increase in productivity, and their attitudes had improved by 40%. Some were able to reduce or stop using health-related medications.
They were excited to continue their progress and even enlisted three additional employees to join the program.
The office became more unified. People worked together to hold each other accountable. Lunchroom snacks changed from cheese puffs to fruit.
During the height of the summer heat, interest peaked in training for the Habitat for Humanity Mud Run with five teams representing the office. Nearly all management and staff participated and those unable to race came out to cheer. It was teamwork at its best and it led to exciting new experiences for many.
Total inches lost at the six-month mark rose to over 70; an increase of 40% in two months’ time.
Morale remained high and employees continued solidifying their vastly-changing lifestyle habits so management agreed to extend the program through year-end.
Our final group endeavor was a free walking challenge open to all employees. The women of FIT Business captained the teams and nearly everyone participated. It was an exciting twelve weeks that encouraged walking, healthy eating/drinking, and up-leveling other habits. It was fun, brought people together, and the winning team was awarded a coveted cash prize.
At the one-year mark, employees who remained with the program were transformed.
They gained the knowledge, drive, and intrinsic motivation necessary to continue their fitness journeys. The women not participating in FIT Business were taking positive cues from their peers and also making marked progress toward healthier lifestyle habits, including regular movement.
As a result, Management purchased gym memberships for all their employees. Four months after FIT Business concluded, 16 of the 17 women were still using their gym memberships 2-3 days per week.
Update: One woman, who never participated in FIT Business, was inspired by the free walking challenge and went from being sedentary to an avid exerciser while also up-leveling numerous other aspects of her life.