wellness-workplace-programs

Workplace Programs

Congratulations to the winners of our Weight Watchers enrollment challenge: the Queens District Attorney’s Office!!!!

The Queens District Attorney’s office beat out 60 other City agencies to win the Weight Watchers enrollment challenge, with an 83% increase in participation. The winners receive a delicious and SmartPoints-friendly lunch with Oprah’s personal Weight Watchers coach, Lisa Levy Shaub, and a feature in Weight Watchers magazine.

Congrats also go out to the 7 other agencies that increased their enrollment by over 25%:

1. Housing and Preservation Development (HPD)
2. Graduate Center (CUNY)
3. City Tech (CUNY)
4. Hunter College (CUNY)
5. Queensborough Community College (CUNY)
6. Department for the Aging (DFTA)
7. LaGuardia Community College (CUNY)

Thanks to all participants -- and especially our dedicated site coordinators – for helping to create a healthier worksite environment for all. More than 1,700 people joined Weight Watchers during the 7-week challenge, and 21 new At-Work meetings were launched.

Weight Watchers is available to City employees at a reduced price, through a partnership between the NYC Employee Benefits Program and your Union. Visit nyc.join.weightwatchers.com to enroll! There are now more than 19,000 people enrolled in the NYC Weight Watchers program, and more than 49,000 pounds have been lost.

Protecting Your Health with Free Flu Vaccinations

Influenza, more commonly referred to as the flu, is a respiratory infection that impacts thousands every year. Up to 49,000 people die from influenza each year and many people, even healthy people, can become very ill. A flu shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your loved ones against this contagious virus. The City of New York wants to ensure that each and every municipal employee and their dependents have access to a free flu vaccination in an effort to enhance and maintain their health and wellbeing.

WorkWell NYC, in partnership with the municipal unions that represent the NYC workforce, offers free flu vaccinations to all municipal employees, pre-Medicare retirees, and their dependents.

There are four easy ways to get your flu shot:

At the Workplace. Workplace clinics are scheduled at worksites across the city each fall to make vaccination quick, easy, and convenient. Participating agencies are scheduling workplace clinics at the dates, times, and locations that best meet the needs of their employees. While not all agencies are taking part in the workplace program, municipal employees have the ability to travel to the closest workplace clinic to participate. See a list of workplace clinics online at https://www.apschedule.com/nycflu (username: nyc, password: flushot) or call 1-866-481-4391 Mon-Fri from 8AM-6PM. ALL employees, regardless of insurance provider, can get a flu shot at no charge.

At the Pharmacy. On the go? Walk into any participating pharmacy to receive a free flu shot. Check with your insurance provider to identify a participating pharmacy in your area and bring your insurance card to the pharmacy. You can use the NYC flu locator to find a pharmacy at www.nyc.gov/flu.

At the Doctor’s Office. Visit an in-network physician for your flu shot. The visit co-pay will be waived when the sole purpose of going to the doctor is to get your flu vaccine. Contact your insurance provider for more information. To find a physician covered by your insurance, visit zocdoc.com/nyc.

At an AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY) Medical Office. City employees and their dependents can also receive their flu shot at one of the several AdvantageCare Physicians medical offices across the five boroughs. Flu shots will be available by walk-in or appointment at the new ACPNY Express for city employees at 52 Duane Street. Flu shots for all ACP locations can be scheduled at www.acpny.com or by calling the exclusive Gold Service Line for City of New York employees at 1-646-680-3000, Mon-Thurs from 8AM-8PM, Fri 8AM-5PM, or Sat 9AM-1:30PM. ALL employees, pre-Medicare retirees, and dependents, regardless of insurance provider, can get a flu shot at ACPNY for no charge.

Keeping NYC healthy is a full time job. We hope to provide the best protection against the flu to as many employees and their family members as possible. By getting your vaccine, you are one step closer to guarding yourself and your family against the flu this season! For more information about this campaign, please read our Frequently Asked Questions or contact workwell@olr.nyc.gov.

Additional Resources

List of ACPNY Locations
Participating pharmacy chains for Emblem members
Participating pharmacies for Emblem members in NY, NJ, CT, PA and FL
NYC Employee Flu Shot Campaign Overview
Department of Health Influenza/Flu Health Bulletin (available in 14 different languages)

National Diabetes Prevention Pilot Program

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in NYC and its prevalence has more than doubled since 1995. It is estimated that 30% of the population may have pre-diabetes and many do not know it. So among New York City’s employees, as many 100,000 may be pre-diabetic.

The City has launched an exciting new pilot to help bring life-saving behavioral practices to employees at the workplace to prevent the onset of diabetes with the Center for Disease Control’s nationally recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). The NDPP provides employees at risk for diabetes access to life‐changing classes that help with stress and weight management, problem‐solving and motivation. Over the course of a year, a lifestyle coach leads participants with pre‐diabetes through discussions about how to establish healthy routines, weight loss and increasing physical activity.

Program outcomes confirm that with modest weight loss of 7% body weight and a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity combined with other lifestyle changes, at-risk participants can delay or even eliminate their chance of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%.

Currently, NDPP classes are occurring in several agencies across the city. If you are interested in participating in a class, please contact Sakara Bey, Culture of Health Program Manager, at workwell@olr.nyc.gov.

EmblemHealth’s City of New York Diabetes and Pregnancy Programs

A diagnosis of diabetes is not a sentence for ill health. With nearly 30 million children and adults diagnosed with the disease, there is a great deal of information and support available to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and minimize the risk of developing related complications. Following a healthy eating plan, increasing physical activity, taking medication as prescribed and testing your blood sugar regularly is a great start.

To support you in your journey, EmblemHealth has launched an exciting case management program that is designed to give you the tools, information and support needed to develop healthy lifestyle habits through coordinated care and service delivery. Nurse case managers and social workers partner with you and your doctor to make sure you are getting the best care possible in managing your Type I, Type II or gestational diabetes. For more information about this program, please call 1-800-447-0768, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm or visit the EmblemHealth website.

This program is only open to NYC employees covered by EmblemHealth.