The results of the American Heart Association 2019 Workplace Health Achievement Index were recently announced, and Suffolk achieved the Silver Level recognition for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace.

The city’s Employee Wellness Program began in 2010 and has progressively led to an increasingly health-conscious workforce, resulting in positive trends in multiple chronic conditions.

The American Heart Association created the index for companies who are committed to applying evidence-based approaches to improve their employees’ overall health. The index uses science-based best practices to evaluate the overall quality and comprehensiveness of their workplace health programs. Studies show that worksites with a culture of health with comprehensive, evidence-based policies and programs and senior leadership support are more likely to have engaged employees and a healthier, more productive workforce.

A unique feature of the index is that it calculates an average heart health score for employees of participating companies that securely submit aggregate health data. Companies receive benchmarking reports, which allow them to identify potential areas of improvement so that they can advance their annual performance and recognition.

Upon learning of the achievement, City Manager Patrick Roberts noted, “We couldn’t be more proud of our Human Resources Department and the countless opportunities they have provided to our employees to enhance their overall health and wellness. Combined, these make for an even more productive workforce, which allows us to better serve our citizens.”