Members of The Resource Center’s STARS Employee Wellness Program (from left, Jon DeSantis, Donna Trusso and Heather Courtney) prepare to celebrate after TRC was named one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. Submitted Photo.

The Resource Center’s award-winning employee wellness program has again gained national recognition.

For the fourth straight year, The Resource Center was named one of the “Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America” by Springbuk, a health analytics company that has conducted the annual Healthiest Employers competition since 2009. The Resource Center was ranked 41st in 2019, up four positions from where it placed the previous year. TRC was eligible to participate in the nationwide competition by virtue of being named one of the healthiest employers in Western New York last spring.

The key to TRC’s success as one of the nation’s healthiest workplaces is its STARS employee wellness program. Implemented several years ago, STARS assesses each person along five key life dimensions: basic needs, physical health, mental wellness, family/social relationships, and employment issues. STARS participants enjoy the opportunity to meet with a certified health coach to develop and monitor a personalized wellness plan; discounts on their health care costs and wellness activities; and the ability to earn incentive points that can be redeemed for prizes. Participation in the wellness program is voluntary. Many of the STARS activities, such as health coaching and the lunch-and-learn series, are open to all TRC employees, not just those who are enrolled in STARS.

Springbuk noted that although TRC transitioned to a different biometric vendor within the last year, 50 percent of employees maintained compliance in meeting personal health goals. Springbuk said that In addition to improved health, this equates to reduced health insurance premiums for these individuals.

Members of the STARS wellness team were pleased TRC again is ranked among the nation’s healthiest workplaces.

“The STARS Wellness Program is thrilled to have received recognition for our wellness initiatives from a local to national level,” said Donna Trusso, the STARS program manager. “We strive to make improve-ments on a continual basis. It is very meaningful to witness the increased involvement and engagement among staff who credit the program for having a positive impact on our work environment. Healthy employees are happy employees.”

TRC officials were glad The Resource Center again placed among the nation’s Healthiest 100 Employers and credited the work done by the STARS team.

“TRC’s wellness team is an amazing group of individuals who lead the agency’s wellness initiatives every day,” said Heather C. Brown, assistant executive director for program operations. “They engage staff in positive ways to achieve results. They take the time to develop individual plans and always go the extra mile. We are most proud of how STARS focuses on the whole person and family, not just physical health but all social determinants of health and wellness.”