Canadian Case Studies

The following case studies are currently posted in alphabetical order for viewing; please note that additional case studies will be added as they are completed:

• BC Hydro & Accenture Business Services of BC
• Great-West Life Assurance Company
• Klondike Wellness: The Yukon's Newest Golden Resource
• Vancouver International Airport Authority

The BC Hydro Story

The BC Hydro Lifestyle Program started in the South Interior Region of British Columbia as a pilot project in 1988. The program has since grown to include all BC Hydro business units throughout the province.

The Lifestyle Program's mission is: "To strengthen BC Hydro's employees by encouraging and educating them to be healthy, well-balanced people."

The Lifestyle Program aligns its strategic objectives with the overall current corporate objective of building a strong and capable organization.

Key strategic objectives

1. To design and provide current and meaningful products and services in order to meet the changing needs of employees and their families.
2. To develop and sustain open interactive communication to determine program content and ensure the widest understanding of the Lifestyle Program and its value to employees, families, and the corporation.
3. To align value-added health promotion initiatives with corporate direction.

The Lifestyle Program is comprised of seven main products:

• Health Education Deliverables
• Incentive Program
• Sport and Active Events
• Health and Wellness Events
• 'Lunch-and-Learn' Sessions
• Resource Library and Internal Website
• Fitness Centres

The Lifestyle Program was originally targeted at assisting those who needed help starting healthy lifestyle activities and to support their ongoing participation.

Health awareness, education and lifestyle events complement the overall model of providing a balanced and holistic approach to employees' general well-being.

Results

After 12 years, 80% of BC Hydro employees are registered in Lifestyle's Incentive Program with 40% actively participating. Two fitness facilities opened in 1993, and currently 40% of employees are paying members.

Performance measures

• Lifestyle Progam participation rates have risen annually to a high of 80% of all BC Hydro employees in 2000;
• Of all the regular employee participants, 40% are reaching award levels;
• Fitness centre membership rates are averaging 40% per site;
• In the year 2000, of the 300 workshops, seminars and special events presented, over 3,800 of Hydro's 5,600 employees participated;
• Usage rates of the resource library; and
• Website 'hits'.

Impact measures

• Cholesterol / blood pressure / glucose screening (pre/post results);
• Fitness appraisal and re-appraisal results;
• Health risk assessment (pre/post program results);
• Lifestyle Program changes - smoking cessation and weight management; and
• Sick leave severity and disabling injuries for participants - well below the corporate average.

Outcome measures

• Data from a cost/benefit study in 1996 showed:
• $1.2 million in reduced sick leave costs annually;
• $97,000 in reduced accident costs per year;
• $35,000 WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD rate reduction;
• Productivity gains of $919,000; and
• Employee retention and corporate image gains.

BC Hydro estimates that there is a total of $2.74 benefit for every $1 spent.

Until now, BC Hydro's Lifestyle Program has focused on providing programming and awareness to the general Hydro employee population, but has recently designed new staffing positions that will focus on a more targeted approach to meeting the individual needs of participants.

Health promotion is recognized as a key component of a healthy organization, but work needs to be done to integrate other areas of the company to bring about sustainable organizational success.

For more information, please contact:

Shirley Sung, Health Promotion Manager
E-mail: shirley.sung@bchydro.bc.ca
Website: www.bchydro.bc.ca