Bridgewater, New Jersey – June 1, 2011 - Sanofi-aventis U.S. kicked off National Employee Wellness Month (NEWM) by promoting a variety of programs to encourage healthy habits with its employees. NEWM is an annual initiative that helps business leaders learn how companies have developed successful strategies around prevention and good health.
“As part of a leading global diversified healthcare company, we understand the impact that a balanced body and mind can have in overall well-being not just for our employees, but for people everywhere,” said Judy O’Hagan, Vice President of Human Resources for sanofi-aventis U.S. “To help people achieve better health, as a society we’re going to have to do a better job of preventing and treating chronic diseases. One place this can start is in the workplace by promoting good health with employees, their families and the communities in which they work.”
Kicking-off on June 1 and continuing through the month of June, sanofi-aventis U.S. is launching a “Walking Club” across all U.S. facilities in partnership with the American Heart Association’s ‘Start! Walking at Work’ Program.
The company offers a variety of health and wellness programs at sites across the United States, including the sanofi-aventis U.S. Headquarters and R&D sites in Bridgewater, NJ; Sanofi Pasteur’s U.S. facility in Swiftwater, Pa.; Chattem, the company’s consumer health business, in Chattanooga, Tenn., and an R&D site in Tucson, Ariz.
Sites have the flexibility to implement programs that most suit their on-site teams and facilities. In addition to the walking clubs, some of the other programs available include: biking clubs, Weight Watchers at Work, blood pressure screenings, diabetes screenings, mammogram program, Mind & Body programs, fitness centers across facilities, recreation leagues and recreation support with soccer fields, basketball court and golf cages.
The company anticipates that more than 1500 colleagues across the U.S. will participate various fitness programs during the month of June.
About National Employee Wellness Month
Forward-thinking organizations across the U.S. are taking action to control rising healthcare costs and are focusing on prevention as one of the best strategies to counter the trend. National Employee Wellness Month showcases how supportive social communities, such as the workplace, can help to improve employee health and productivity and lower healthcare costs, and how leveraging an individual’s social connections helps create and sustain a workplace culture of health. Together, the supporting National Employee Wellness Month organizations and their employees understand that intelligent health decisions and supportive social communities can create a healthy, more productive workforce. Information and resources about workplace wellness, along with suggested ideas for celebrating National Employee Wellness Month, can be found at www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com.
About sanofi-aventis U.S.
Sanofi-aventis U.S. is an affiliate of Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). For more information, please visit www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.sanofi.com.
Media Contact:
Jack Cox
Sanofi-aventis, US
Tel: (908) 981-5280
E-mail: jcox@sanofi-aventis.com