“Most everyone works for a living and can’t afford to be sick. We can’t afford to take time off of work,” said Joyce Cavanaugh, secretary to Alsip Mayor Arnold Andrews.
In the interest of reducing absenteeism and insurance claims, the city earlier this year offered employees a three-month fitness program after work hours at St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island.
“We learned about body fat content, what exercise program we needed and nutrition,” Cavanaugh said. “My husband is a diabetic, so I thought I knew a lot about nutrition and exercise, but I learned so much more.”
Enrollment in the program was voluntary. The village paid half the tuition upfront and reimbursed them for the other half upon completion of the program.
Additional classes on stress management and weight loss were also available. Because of the risk of hypertension, heart disease and arthritis for overweight people, employees taking part in the weight loss program and maintaining the desired weight for three months also were reimbursed.
Mayor Arnold Andrews said offering the class cost the village $50,000, but already has reaped some positive results.
“This isn’t something that can be measured in six months, but I see it as money well spent,” he said. “A healthy work force is a better work force all around.”
“Everyone was very pleased with the program,” said Cavanaugh. “We all feel so much better.”
And to maintain the new strength and physique of the village, fitness equipment (including a stationary bicycle, stair climber and weight machines) has been purchased and installed in both firehouses, to be used by village employees who pass a physical exam and complete the fitness class.
Fire Chief Ronald Fraider said he thinks his firefighters are working out more often because of the convenient location.
“It’s important for us to be in top physical shape,” said Fraider. “We go from a sedentary position to emergency medical service or firefighting in minutes, carrying a minimum of 70 pounds of equipment.”
