Healthy Living at Work pilot starts Aug. 1

A free annual physical and 90 minutes of paid release time are available through the Healthy Living at Work pilot that begins Aug. 1 and runs through Dec. 31.

All benefits-eligible, hourly employees at the West Lafayette campus who are covered by a Purdue medical plan are eligible to participate in the pilot. If the pilot is successful, Purdue will offer a program in 2014.

"We hope the Healthy Living at Work program will make it easier for our employees to get away for their annual checkup and take care of themselves," says Luis E. Lewin, vice president for human resources.

According to Dr. Carolyn Cooper at the Center for Healthy Living, "An annual physical exam checks for new health problems and monitors ongoing issues so that appropriate treatment may be initiated." Cooper says it's advantageous to assess risk factors so that diseases can be prevented.

Employee and supervisor guides are available now on the Center for Healthy Living website at www.purdue.edu/healthyliving. Highlights of the program are:

* Up to 90 minutes of paid release time is provided throughout the duration of the pilot to travel to the Center for Healthy Living for one visit, get an annual physical exam and return to the workplace.

* Eligible employees do not need to make up the paid release time. They will record it on their time sheets as "Other leave – paid."

* The annual physical exam and preventive lab work will be provided at no charge to the employee. If the physical finds a condition that needs treatment, the employee may be able to begin treatment during the physical exam appointment, for an additional cost, or the employee may schedule a separate appointment, if desired.

Peak volume times, special projects or staff absences may affect when an employee can be away from the job to participate in the Healthy Living at Work pilot. "We encourage employees and supervisors to be flexible in working together," says Eva Nodine, director of benefits in human resources. "Work it out so that the employee gets to take advantage of the pilot while the business needs of the department are still met."