Michelin North America Health Programme Wins Platinum Award

The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit US based association of large employers, has honoured Michelin North America with its highest award, the Platinum Award, for its commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy workplace. The Platinum Award also acknowledges Michelin for encouraging its workers and families to support and maintain healthy lifestyles.

Michelin was one of 66 employers to receive the 2010 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award and one of only 16 to receive the Platinum Award at a leadership summit sponsored by the National Business Group. Michelin received the Platinum Award for its ‘Choose Well-Live Well’ programme, which it describes as a long-term strategy that shifts the primary focus of health care from treatment of illness to wellness, prevention and quality of care. The programme, adds Michelin, provides its employees and their families with a health advocate “to help navigate the health care system and improve efficiency through better coordination of care.” Choose Well-Live Well, Michelin continues, also integrates preventive care and consumer-driven medical plan design with healthy food choices, health risk assessments, health coaching, weight management, condition management, case management, financial incentives and enhanced employees assistance programme services.

“Michelin’s employees are the backbone of our company,” said Martin Storey, director of benefits for Michelin North America. “The health and well-being of our employees has a direct impact on the success of our company.  Michelin is proud to be involved in the Choose Well-Live Well programme, which has proven to enhance the quality of life for our employees and their families.”

“We are delighted to recognise Michelin for its innovation and commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs designed to encourage healthier lifestyles for their employees,” said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health. “Michelin and its management team recognise just how important a healthy workforce is to increasing productivity and controlling health care costs, and we congratulate them on receiving this award.”

Winners of the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards were acknowledged in one of three categories: Platinum, for established workplace well-being programmes with measurable success and documented outcomes; Gold, for creating cultural and environmental changes that support employees who are committed to long-term behaviour changes; and Silver, for employers who have launched significant programmes or services to promote living a healthier lifestyle.