Applied Materials        Description

Introduction

Applied Materials is the world’s leading semiconductor equipment company with 14,000 employees in more than 80 locations around the world.  Most employees are young, highly educated, professional workers. Favorable demographics, aggressive workers compensation case management, and migration of 75% of the eligible population to managed care have helped keep Applied’s total health care costs below norms. 

The Applied Wellness program was started in 1988 to enhance worker performance and productivity.  The program’s mission is to improve employee and company health, well-being, and productivity to support Applied Materials’ profit and competitive advantage. The strategy is to provide the tools necessary for participants to develop their own personal wellness program. The wide array of programs offered are directed at either heightening awareness of basic health practices, facilitating behavior change and supporting a healthy culture, or are programs driven by specific business needs. 

Core programs include:
Health Appraisals: On-site screenings for vision, cholesterol, body composition, blood pressure and glucose, Health Risk Assessments

Nutrition and Weight Control: Educational classes, weight control program subsidy, daily café healthy food options 

Physical Activity and Fitness:  On-site fitness centers, fitness testing, exercise prescription, group activity classes, outdoor sport facilities, fitness subsidy for employees with no on-site facilities, sport/recreation league subsidy, sports injury prevention clinics

Stress Management and WorkLife:  Skill development classes, Employee Assistance Program, LifeWorks Resource Referral program, manager’s tool kits, incentive programs, community event support

Special Population Programs: Prenatal education programs, parenting seminars, shiftwork education classes, smoking cessation programs

On-line Services:  Wellness lending library, educational and activity class registration, social club/recreation activity network, Intranet site:  hrweb/wellness

A highly educated, trained, and motivated staff of 8 support the global program.  The team prides itself on customer satisfaction, with a current rating of 4.25 out of 5.00.  Program Awards include:

• Well Workplace Gold Award (WELCOA, 1996) 
• Best Practice Partner, Corporate Employee Health Promotion and Demand Management (International Benchmarking Clearinghouse, American Productivity & Quality Center, 1996)
• Business & Industry Award (1000+ employees, (Association of Worksite Health Promotion, 1995) 
• CA Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport Corporate Wellness Program Award (1995)