UK Recognized for Prioritizing Employee Well-Being
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 10, 2021) — The University of Kentucky has been recognized as one of the Healthiest Employers® of Kentucky for 2020. The awards program, sponsored by health intelligence platform company Springbuk®, was created to honor organizations committed to employee well-being and providing exceptional health and wellness offerings.
“What an honor it is for UK to be recognized for our efforts in supporting and investing in our employees’ well-being, especially during a time when it may be difficult to achieve,” said Jody Ensman, program manager for UK Human Resources Health and Wellness. “For many years, it has been our mission to provide education, awareness, interventions and resources to UK employees. The collective effort of many Human Resources areas addresses multiple aspects of well-being: physical, mental, emotional, nutritional and financial.”
Award applicants were evaluated across six key categories: culture and leadership, foundational components, strategic planning, communication and marketing, programming and interventions, and reporting and analytics. Participants were ranked with the proprietary Healthiest Employers® Index, a rubric for wellness programming.
Healthiest Employers® has been highlighting companies who use innovative strategies to improve employee health since 2009. More than 10,000 employers have participated across the country, representing more than 60 million employees.
As a UK employee, UK HR Health and Wellness and UK HR Work-Life services are available to you. Some offerings include:
- Three different MoveWell fitness memberships with in-person, virtual or all-access options.
- Free EatWell memberships tailored to help you meet your nutritional goals.
- Individual well-being coaching and group meetings through BeWell.
- Consults with fitness specialists, registered dietitians and health coaches.
- KORU mindfulness classes and mindful self-compassion workshops.
- Weekly Facebook live fitness, meditation and mindfulness events.
- A Community Supported Agriculture voucher program.
- Monthly “Becoming Wildly Resilient” podcast.
- Working Parents Network with coffee chats, presentations and social media posts.
- Elder care and caregiver support.
- Mental health counseling for employees and family members.
- Virtual Well-Being Check Ins.
“Employee well-being is essential. It affects all aspects of our lives — our work, home life and relationships,” Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Kim Wilson said. “It is wonderful to be recognized for the programs and services we offer, and it is a testament to the university’s commitment to its employees.”
Are you interested in improving your well-being? Try starting here.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.