How Mesirow used worker incentives to promote wellness

When Mesirow Financial Inc. offered its employees free physicals a few years ago, only about a third of the 875 employees in its Chicago headquarters participated. For the most recent round of tests in early October, more than 750 people turned out.

When Mesirow Financial Inc. offered its employees free physicals a few years ago, only about a third of the 875 employees in its Chicago headquarters participated. For the most recent round of tests in early October, more than 750 people turned out.

What’s changed? The financial services firm has devised a far-reaching wellness program complete with website, logo (a person in the middle of a heart) and a full schedule of events. A carrot helps, too: Anybody showing up for the physical this year got an automatic $360 discount on his or her health insurance.

Four hundred Mesirow employees showed up for free flu shots in October — the firm picked up the $25 cost. Smokers pay an extra $20 a month for their health insurance, but the company removes that surcharge for anybody completing a Mesirow-sponsored smoking-cessation course, which can include private coaching.

“As recently as four years ago, we did very little of anything here,” said Teri Raimondi, a Mesirow senior human resources specialist. The program was started at the behest of president Richard Price and chairman and chief executive James Tyree. Mr. Tyree is facing health challenges of his own, announcing recently that he has been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

“Wellness is important to top management, and now it’s important to the entire company,” Ms. Raimondi said.

The firm doesn’t pick up the tab for everything. Mesirow sets aside a conference room for weekly lunch-time meetings of Weight Watchers, with each participant paying $180 for a 17-week course. Twenty-five people are enrolled.

Roughly 450 people turned out for a wellness fair Sept. 16 that featured chiropractors, nutritionists, doctors, dentists, podiatrists and optometrists.

Just three months ago, Mesirow’s vending machines got a makeover, with most candy bars and other sweets banished in favor of healthier choices. The machines feature dried apple chips, trail mix, non-buttered popcorn and baked potato chips. Each machine is color coded according to its health quotient, with the healthiest painted green and the worst red. About 70% of the machines are green.

Cardiovascular fitness has be-come important. Nearly 150 employees took part in a recent American Heart Association walk, with Mr. Price among them and Mr. Tyree donating $50 to the association for each Mesirow participant.

In addition, the firm has instituted a stair-walking program each Tuesday, with employees encouraged to walk to their offices, some of which are 16 stories up.

Most unusual of all: Mesirow has installed a so-called walking workstation. It’s a treadmill with a top speed of 2 mph that features its own computer and phone, all designed by office furniture maker Steelcase Inc. There is only one so far; employees sign up in advance to reserve time on it. The firm might install more, depending on demand.

The walking workstation is proof that “wellness programs can come in all shapes and sizes,” said Debbi Brooks, divisional vice president of wellness programs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.

This story first appeared in sister publication Crain’s Chicago Business.