BP America wins 2014 C. Everett Koop National Health Award for employee health and wellness program
Top award credits BP’s industry-leading program for improving employee health and reducing costs
HOUSTON – BP announced today that it has been selected as the recipient of the 2014 C. Everett Koop National Health Award in recognition of its best-in-class health and wellness program for US employees.
Each year, the prestigious honor is given to corporations that have shown unique success in positively influencing the personal health habits and cost-effective use of health care services by employees and their families. The award, named after a former US surgeon general, is presented annually by The Health Project, an organization that seeks to identify, evaluate, promote and distribute information about such leading programs.
“BP America’s efforts demonstrate that, when done right, evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs not only make workers healthier, they can also produce a positive return-on-investment,” said Dr. Ron Goetzel, president and CEO of The Health Project.
The BP wellness program is offered to BP’s approximately 20,000 U.S. employees and their dependents. To help boost enrollment, BP offers participants access to lower out-of-pocket-cost medical plans once they earn a minimum number of “points” for completing things like annual medical exams and wellness courses on a variety of topics. The program has options for employees across the fitness spectrum.
Since its inception in 2010, the BP wellness program has had measurable success on several fronts. More than 91 percent of incentive-eligible employees and spouses have participated in some aspect of the program each year it has been available. In addition, BP’s overall health risks have been reduced by nearly 10 percent, far exceeding industry benchmarks.
“We’re still making progress on this journey, but we are honored to be recognized for the success of our program thus far and for the commitment BP has made to the health and wellness of our employees,” said John Mingé, chairman and president of BP America.
The Health Project archives winning health and wellness programs on its website so that other corporations and community agencies may draw on them as a reference according to their own needs.
BP will be presented with the C. Everett Koop National Health Award on October 1, 2014, at the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) Forum in San Diego, California.
Notes to the Editor:
- BP was named one of the “Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” by the National Business Group on Health at the Gold Award level in 2012 and the Platinum Award level in 2013.
- BP America was named Houston's Healthiest Employer by the Houston Business Journal for 2014, marking the third consecutive year BP has made the list.
- BP’s Million Step Challenge – a program in which participants work to reach one-, two- and three-million step goals – has driven physical activity as the foundation of wellness at BP Introduced last year, it now has over 25,000 participants, including BP employees and dependents who track their steps using wireless activity trackers provided by the company at no cost.
About BP:
Over the past five years, BP has invested nearly $50 billion in the US – more than any other energy company. BP is a leading producer of oil and gas and provides enough energy annually to light the entire country for a year. Employing approximately 20,000 people in all 50 states, BP supports more than 260,000 jobs total through all of its business activities. For more information, go to www.bp.com/us.
