RALEIGH, N.C. - How do you get 14,000 employees to exercise, eat right and live healthier lifestyles? The N.C. Department of Transportation has $1.5 million to figure it out.

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A grant from the Astra Zeneca foundation is funding a worksite wellness program for the 14,000 employees of the DOT. After just three weeks on the job, the department’s newly hired wellness coordinator knows he has a big task ahead. 

 

“In certain situations, we’re dealing with office environments. In others we’re dealing with road crews, with maintenance crews,” said Bob Nelson, DOT wellness coordinator. “Getting wellness information out to someone on a road crew in Murphy is one of the biggest challenges of the program.”

 

The state health plan estimates that 70 percent of its medical and pharmacy claims are linked to preventable diseases related to nutrition, obesity, lack of physical activity, tobacco use and stress. DOT employee David Smith knows how easy it is to fall into bad habits.

 

“Whenever you’re tied to a desk and you do a lot of work on the phone, you sit down more,” he said. “It’s harder to force yourself to get out and do the exercise that we need.”

 

Smith, who has lost 30 pounds with the help of an employee weight loss group, appreciates the small changes that have already been made, including healthier food choices in employee snack areas. Employees at the department’s headquarters in Raleigh are using flexible scheduling to take walks on their lunch hour and during breaks to improve fitness and reduce stress. 

 

Health fairs have brought screenings and information to some of the 14 district offices scattered across the state.    

 

The DOT is looking for 2,000 employees to sign up by this fall to get the program off and running.   Their feedback and successes will help the department create a wellness program that will not only make employees healthier, but will likely be a model for other state agencies to follow.