Long Island Business Employers and Employees Benefit from Improved Productivity as Employees Participate in Four Wellness Challenge Activity Areas During Nine Week Program

Hauppauge, NY – January 31, 2012 – In order to provide a no-cost, turnkey wellness benefit program to all HIA-LI member companies, raise awareness and provide education about healthy living and lifestyle choices, and to recognize employer and employee accomplishments in the area of wellness, HIA-LI, the recognized voice for business on Long Island, is sponsoring the Second Annual HIA-LI Wellness Challenge. The challenge takes place over a nine week period that began January 9, 2012. It focuses on four areas of lifestyle that encompass wellness: Physical Health, Emotional Health, Nutritional Health, and Financial Health. Employees from each of the 22 participating employer organizations create online profiles and log into the HIA-LI Wellness Challenge website (http://www.hia-li-wellnesschallenge.org/) to begin. Each week offers participants a list of activities to try from each of the four wellness areas. At the end of nine weeks, on Monday, April 16, all employees and employers will be recognized for their participation and achievements at a Wellness Challenge Awards Ceremony at Jefferson’s Ferry. More information is available at http://www.hia-li-wellnesschallenge.org/

A wellness program is an organized, employer-sponsored program that is designed to support employees – and sometimes, their families – as they adopt and sustain behaviors that reduce health risks, improve quality of life, enhance personal effectiveness and benefit the organizations bottom line.

“The HIA-LI Wellness Challenge was designed to reflect the connection between physical and emotional well-being and the productivity in an organization. Employees who improve the way they feel, physically and emotionally, show increased focus and productivity throughout their workday. This is one of the reasons hosting the Challenge was so important to us,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, president, HIA-LI. “We are encouraging companies to allow employees and their families and significant others to participate in the Wellness Challenge.”

“The HIA-LI Wellness Challenge provides a compass for member organizations and their employees to start a series of healthy activities we hope they will maintain beyond the challenge itself,” said Christine Ippolito, co-chair of the HIA-LI Healthcare Committee, principal of Compass Workforce Solutions and one of the organizers of the Challenge.

This year’s participating employers are: Advanced Acoustic Concepts; Alcott HR Group; Amneal Pharmaceuticals; Brian Shube Consulting; CDC of Long Island; Chromate Products Corp.; DirectBuy of Suffolk County; EAC, Inc.; Factxback; Gurney’s Inn; Innovative Stone; Jefferson’s Ferry Lifetime Retirement; Jim Ryan Talks; Marcum LLP; Mercy Haven, Inc; National EAP; Parts Authority; People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union; Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associates; Santinelli International; Suffolk County National Bank; and The Maurer Foundation.

About the Long Island Economic Survey and Opinion Poll
In its 18th year, The Long Island Economic Survey and Opinion Poll is conducted by Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company, P.C. (AVZ) in partnership with Long Island Business News and the Townsend School of Business at Dowling College.

About HIA-LI
HIA-LI helps Long Island businesses prosper. For over 30 years, we have been the recognized voice for business on Long Island and a powerful force and economic engine for regional development. We provide a forum for business leaders to network, problem solve and obtain advice on critical issues facing their businesses. Our member companies represent tens of thousands of business professionals. We’re headquartered in and support one of the largest industrial parks in the United States. HIA-LI programs and events promote strategic partnerships, targeted networking, and information sharing and business advocacy. Members benefit from our committees, educational programs, career resources, research capabilities, mentoring opportunities and business advisory services. For more information, visit http://www.HIA-LI.org or call 631-543-5355.

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HIA-LI CONTACT:
Terri Alessi-Miceli, 631-543-5355, talessi@hia-li.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Arthur Germain, Communication Strategy Group; 1-866-997-2424; agermain@gocsg.com