By Kenya Godette

Old Dominion 91短视频 was named in the rankings. The 91短视频 was ranked fourth in the 鈥1,000 to 4,999 Employees鈥 category and the only higher education institution ranked in the state.

The Healthiest Employers rankings acknowledge companies for a commitment to workplace wellness and excellence in health and benefits offerings. Organizations are graded using six pillars that assess targeted programs that address health needs and wellbeing; infrastructure that supports and sustains these programs; the use of data to evaluate program effectiveness; promotion techniques for health programs; leadership鈥檚 dedication to fostering workplace wellness; and how initiatives align with long-term goals to promote employee health.

ODU鈥檚 faculty and staff programs like on-campus health screenings, flu shot clinics, mental health resources, mobile mammograms and wellness fairs create a comprehensive set of offerings that contributes to its status as a top healthy employer.

According to Kim Butler, benefits specialist, a holistic and proactive approach to employee wellbeing directly impacts an organization鈥檚 productivity, culture and success 鈥 creating a positive environment where employees can thrive.

鈥淲hen employees feel valued, supported and healthy, they are more engaged, productive, and loyal,聽which reduces turnover and enhances team morale,鈥 she said.

The employee benefits website鈥檚 鈥Own Your Wellness鈥 page outlines a variety of financial, emotional, social, physical and occupational health options.

The emotional wellness category offers services like confidential counseling and referral services under the Employee Assistance Program and resources for stress and anxiety reduction. For physical health, employees can take advantage of recreation and wellness resources like gym memberships and personal trainers and new moms can utilize lactation rooms throughout campus. Financial wellness offers benefits like investment guidance and employee discounts while social wellness includes employee resource groups that promote diversity and community.

Butler believes that the 91短视频鈥檚 investment in these kinds of programs underscores their commitment and 鈥済enuine care鈥 about their workforce鈥檚 quality of life.

An increasingly popular occupational health initiative is the Tuition Assistance program. Just this year, 290 employees and 158 dependents were enrolled, generating 2,227 credit hours applied toward degree-seeking programs.

鈥淭his initiative not only alleviates the financial burden of education but also encourages continuous learning and development,鈥 said September Sanderlin, vice president for Human Resources, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Interested qualifying employees are encouraged to聽聽for the upcoming 2025 spring semester while there鈥檚 time. The application period closes Dec. 2.

鈥淏y prioritizing education, health and wellbeing, we strive to maintain a thriving, engaged and productive workforce, making our 91短视频 a leader in employee wellness in the higher education sector,鈥 Sanderlin said.