Program Description

Narrative Description of Program

The L. L. Bean Health and Fitness Program began in 1982 with the company's recognition of the importance of employee health to our business. Over the years it has grown into a comprehensive broad based program. Consistent with L. L. Bean's emphasis on Total Quality Management, the Health and Fitness Program continues to stress preventive health programs.

The overall L. L. Bean Employee Health program addresses a wide range of worksite wellness, occupational health, and safety needs. The specific goals are to:

• Increase overall health, fitness and related quality of life of employees (e.g. improve employee health habits to be comparable to the 75^th percentile of healthiest companies). 
• Reduce injuries and illnesses. 
• Reduce time lost from work. 
• Reduce health care, workers compensation, disability, and absenteeism costs. 

Numerous interventions (see Employee Health Mission Statement) are targeted by 15 health and safety professionals for 3,500 regular employees, their spouses, and retirees. In addition the program supports 3,500 seasonal employees who join the company each Fall.

Six professionals specifically address health risk and cost reduction through our Health and Fitness program (see Employee Health and Fitness Resource Guide). We developed this program over the years by identifying internal customer needs, reviewing the scientific literature, and benchmarking programs at Johnson and Johnson, Dupont, Coors, Aetna, Tenneco, Honeywell, and others.

Funds for the core program ($167,000 for 1993) come from the Human Resources Budget. This program is instrumental in achieving and maintaining a healthy and fit work force, a critical factor in achieving our business goals. To reach out to those employees with the greatest health risks, in 1990 we established an account within our self-insured health insurance account to fund our Health Risk Appraisal and follow up program. This account also provides financial credits to employees for participating in targeted health risk reduction programs ($88,000 for 1993).

To further integrate health promotion and group health insurance, we are linking our health improvement results and objectives into our managed care offerings (see RFP for Managed Care).

We also specifically target health improvement for our employees with workers compensation injuries/illnesses (see L. L. Bean Health Services).

Purpose: To work with area management and employees to achieve and maintain a healthy and safe workplace, and promote the health, safety, and fitness of employees.

OBJECTIVES

• Reduce injuries and illnesses 
• Reduce time lost from work due to injuries/illnesses 
• Increase overall health, fitness and related quality of life of employees 
• Reduce workers compensation and health care costs 

"RIGHT THINGS" TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES

Prevent Occupational Injuries/Illness By:

• Ergonomic Design of Work Stations and Work Processes 
• Health and Safety Education and Training 
• Worksite Stretch Programs 
• Safety/Industrial Hygiene Programs 
• Post Offer Health Inquiries 

Manage Occupational Injuries/Illnesses By:

• Case Management of Disabled Employees 
• Onsite Physical Therapy 
• Transitional Work/Permanent Reassignment for Disabled Employees 
• Claims Handling 

Prevent and Manage Those Non-Work Related Injuries/Illnesses with Greatest Negative Impact on Employees and L.L. Bean Through:

• Health Risk Appraisals 
• Health Classes and Programs 
• Health Education and Counseling 
• Departmental Stress Management Consulting 
• Benefit Bonus Credits 

Provide Health and Fitness Programs for General Health Improvement:

• Health and Activity Classes 
• General Fitness Assessments 
• Five Regional Fitness Centers 

Customer-Supplier Alignments with Key Areas

Compliance with Governmental Regulations

	Location	Approximate Off-Peak Employment
General Offices, Retail Store, Distribution Center, Etc.	Freeport, ME	1,891
Warehouse, Administration, etc.	Portland, ME	966
Manufacturing	Brunswick, ME	307
Telephone Center	Lewiston, ME	295
Factory Store	North Conway, NH	15
Factory Store	Nashua, NH	25
Factory Store	Ellsworth, ME	8
TOTAL		3,507*

*A Concord, NH Factory Store will open in May with 25 employees eligible for benefits

L.L. Bean Health Philosophy

L.L. Bean is committed to improving and maintaining the health of our employees and their families. Our goal is to be among the healthiest of U.S. companies. We want our employees to be healthy because we believe that healthy people lead fuller lives, and as employees, are more productive contributors to the success of our company.

In partnership with our employees, we focus our efforts on preventing illness and disability and improving the overall health of Bean people and their families. We consistently encourage our employees to take personal responsibility for their health. We support them by offering high quality, cost-effective and needs based health, safety, fitness, and benefits programs which reflect our health philosophy. Working together we believe we can achieve our goals.

L.L. Bean Commitment to Employee Health

As a Total Quality Management organization, L.L. Bean is very focused on the long term health and welfare of its employees and their families. Management is engaged in the process of educating employees about healthy lifestyles. To this end, L.L. Bean seeks assistance and input from a quality managed care partner on methods to promote positive health outcomes for employees and their families. In May, 1993 management surveyed employees on various issues about current health practices. The 81% response (3,108 surveys returned out of 3,667 distributed) demonstrates L.L. Bean's employees' interest in health issues. A sampling of survey results follows:

• 86% never had high blood pressure; 
• 60% had cholesterol 200mg/dl or below; 
• 63% currently do aerobic exercise; 
• 80% have a healthcare professional; 
• 54% do a monthly breast exam (females only) 
• 28% use Fitness Centers; 
• 26% participate in Activity Classes 
• 27% participate in Health Education Classes 
• 40% participated in Health Risk Appraisal 
• 56% participate in worksite Stretch breaks 
• 52% participate in Blood Pressure/Cholesterol Screening 

• To take advantage of opportunities to control long term cost and utilization while enhancing the quality of health care delivered to L.L. Bean employees. 
• To provide employees with a health plan that offers employees and their families enhanced health opportunities with a preventive care focus. 
• To identify and contract with a managed health care provider whose commitment to quality and service excellence mirrors that of L.L. Bean, Inc. 
• This provider will be capable of meeting the current needs of l_. L. Bean, and meet future needs as they arise; and will commit to development of a long term relationship with L.L. Bean. 
• To obtain the same superior quality customer service for LOLJ Bean employees as L.L. Bean delivers to its own customers. 
• To select the managed health care provider whose rating methodologies, administrative fees and health care products best meet L.L. Bean's financial, service and quality requirements.