In Oregon, two people met and forging a partnership that would become the Nike brand. The mission of Nike International, a global marketer for athletic sportswear, is what guides them today. Inspire and innovate every athlete worldwideThis is a. Meghan Simmons, Wellness Center Manager, explains. “Our mission comes from the belief that if you have a body, you’re an athlete. When we built our corporate campus, it was with a vision of fitness, health, and wellness as a core part of our culture. We grew into a very grassroots program… not something mandated by a CEO. Everyone here simply wants to be healthy.”
Nike’s 35,000 employees worldwide have access to health and wellness programs. But the company headquarters, located near Beaverton OR, is particularly remarkable. These include two gyms that cover a total of 110,000 feet each, an indoor Olympic pool and 8 group fitness classes, as well as 2 soccer fields with international teams, a volleyball court, and a rock climbing wall.
Over 5000 employees at headquarters have access to a variety of health and wellness benefits, including some that are off-campus for residents in the surrounding area.
• Acupuncture
• CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator certification
• High-end VO2 max fitness testing
• Hydrostatic body fat testing
• Massage
• Monthly health screenings
• Weight Watchers®.
Human Resources/Benefits works closely with wellness. They meet every year to identify the top employee health concerns and then create a schedule of high-priority initiatives.
Creativity enhances programs
Meghan praises the innovative abilities of her team. “We often hold sessions where someone asks a question or tosses out a word, then people fire back related words or phrases. We write down everything without any attempt to analyze it. Later we gather those thoughts and discuss them. These sessions let us build on one another’s ideas. The results turn into fun, crazy ways to accomplish our goal.”
Meghan offers an example. “We created a prize wheel to help promote interest in our programs. We’ve taken it to mobile mammogram sites, new employee orientations, and even to our campus farmers’ market… anywhere we anticipate lines or crowds. Employees spin the wheel and get raffle tickets equivalent to whatever number it lands on. We also put prizes on the wheel itself. It could be anything from a free massage to a water bottle. It’s been hugely popular.”
Meghan laughs, “Sometimes our creativity comes back to bite us. Once we were planning a week-long flu shot campaign. We thought it would be a great idea to print napkins with an eye-catching logo and the slogan ‘Take one for the team — beat the flu bug.’ They were distributed all over campus. Well, Nike is big on sustainability and we didn’t use recyclable napkins. The lesson here is to consider the company’s larger objectives, as well as your own, when planning.”
Some programs become an institution of routine. An acupuncturist visited the area to talk about Chinese medicine. He also offered a group class. Acupuncture was so well-received that individuals are now offered 3 times per week. Acupuncture is primarily used to treat injury, but employees also find it helpful for managing stress, infertility and digestion. The medical plan covers up to $500 in reimbursement for acupuncture and naturopathic or chiropractic treatment.
Wellness employees can now provide free screenings for health with aggregate results that are fed back to HR/Benefits.
- Bone density
- Glucose
- Hear
- Lactic acid
- Lipids
- Mammograms
- Prostate
- Skin cancer
- Thyroid
- Vision.
Meghan rates Nike highly for helping employees find the perfect balance between personal and professional lives. “If you need an hour or so for yourself… whether it’s to work out or go to the doctor… it’s never questioned. We tell employees to ‘do the right thing — whatever that is for you.’ That may mean coming in early, staying late, telecommuting a couple hours each day, or mothers taking time to use campus lactation rooms during the day. Options are there.”
Team Melt Down The Less Fit Door
The time television show Biggest LoserNike’s creations were wildly popular. Team Melt DownHealthy weight loss competition “We wanted to avoid just measuring pounds lost, which might lead people to try losing weight in an unhealthy way. So we added body fat and waist circumference to our contest. A $25 enrollment fee goes toward cash prizes. Participants receive all resources necessary to map their progress.”Meghan points out the fact that many people focus solely on weight. They may require education about the importance and measurements of their waistline, as well as body fat.
This year’s 10-week contest begins in February. “January is dedicated to promoting the contest. People get involved in other things during the holidays. Then it takes about 2 weeks for them to get back to some sort of routine.”Promo strategies include:
• Lobby posters
• Intranet
• Nike’s radio station
• Trainer and fitness instructor referrals
• Promotional staff T-shirts.
The celebration party is where all the competition winners are revealed and awarded. There will be raffles at the event to encourage people to come. Nike offers many prizes as well as local vendors. Nike is one example. We are here for youA 60-minute treatment, $20 off campus salon credit, 1 acupuncture, 45-minute training session and a nutrition session are all part of the fitness package. A lesson with a professional golfer, new apparel and a golf bag are all part of another Nike prize package.
Nike compares some numbers with Nike products to help participants get a better mental picture. This year, the results were remarkably similar to last year. Team Melt Down The result was:
• 250 participants, with 180 finishing
• 1379 pounds lost (equivalent to 897.75 pairs of Nike Air Max 360 III, men’s size 9)
• 349.5 inches lost (or 25.8 Nike shoe boxes end to end)
• 428.1% body fat lost.
Nike employees work in groups of 3, and are then matched with others to make a full team. Meghan emphasizes the importance of Nike being about teams. “It fits our focus and helps everyone stay motivated. You know you’re not alone in the fight. Teams do everything together, including getting their measurements, working with a trainer, and receiving a nutrition consult.”
Nike, like many other companies that have onsite gyms, has to convince people who aren’t fit enough to join them. This misconception can be overcome with the strategy called Group ActiveBody Training Systems developed ‘, which targets beginners and deconditioned athletes. It combines weight training, cardio, stretching, and weight training. To join these classes, participants don’t have to be members of a gym. Team Melt Down Members need to show their wristbands when they check in.
Final thoughts on outsourcing
Meghan’s department heavily relies on contractors. She advises others in similar situations to research and get legal advice. “It’s so important to make a good impression. When we bring in a contractor, they represent us. So we personally make sure they’re among the best — through reference checks and research. If possible, we go to see them in action. The Wellness team needs to do this… if we’re asking someone to come to a program, it better be worth it. They’re taking valuable time out of their day for this. Whatever they’re missing, this should be better.”