Employees at Cook-Illinois Corp., the largest privately held school bus company in the nation, are receiving extra incentives to keep their New Year’s resolutions to get into shape along with their loved ones.
The contractor is partnering with a fitness center in the Chicagoland area to offer premium memberships to its employees. For a small deduction from their paychecks, the employees gain access to more than 55 gym locations, complimentary guest privileges and a free personal training session, custom cardio program and heart rate zone analysis.
“Investing in the health and wellness of our employees also helps us to manage our employees’ well-being while they interact daily in a highly stressful environment – the school bus,” said John Benish, COO of Cook-Illinois. “Managing stress levels helps the driver to create a positive place for children to begin their school day as well as to promote and motivate healthy, positive behaviors which we hope will carry on throughout the school day once the children exit the bus.”
Two-thirds of Americans over the age of 20 are considered overweight or obese, according to the 2010 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Benish said that figure skyrockets to 86 percent of employees in the transportation industry. He added that student transporters are highly diligent at ensuring the safety of their student cargo but too often neglect their own health.
“Investment in the health of our employees is valued as one of our highest priorities, and we are excited to help facilitate and support healthy life changes for our employees,” he said.
