The Business Council of Fairfield County’s Healthy Employer Recognition Program honored The Ashforth Company with the Gold recognition award for its wellness program. This marks the seventh consecutive year being honored.

The Business Council program highlights the efforts of employers who understand the competitive advantage of a healthy workforce and who have implemented a diverse range of programs to promote a healthy workplace and assist their employees to live healthier lives.

Since launching its wellness program in 2012, Ashforth has promoted wellness by: emailing Ashforth’s Wellness News monthly to employees and posting on its Wellness Board in its community kitchen, supporting fitness goals with gym discounts and walking groups, and encouraging participation in yearly health fairs and health observance events.

In 2018, Ashforth introduced a company-wide “Hydration Challenge” designed to encourage employees to boost their daily consumption of water. The overall objective of the challenge was to increase consumption of water in place of sugary and caffeine-containing beverages by setting a goal to drink 64 ounces of water each work day. The month long challenge began in May with 33 employees having participated. A second challenge was held in the fall with 22 employees having participated.

Ashforth continued its Financial Wellness Program for its employees, which began in 2016. The Program includes a series of onsite financial seminars offered by Fidelity, as well as financial wellness articles as part of Ashforth’s monthly Wellness News. The goal of the Company’s Financial Wellness Program is to help reduce any financial stress employees may have.

Ashforth also continued participating in a Farm Shares at Work CSA Program, a weekly delivery of fresh locally-grown produce delivered directly to Ashforth’s owned properties: 707 Summer Street, 3001 Stamford Square, and Greenwich Plaza.  And, Ashforth expanded its local farm delivery program with the addition of a new farm-to-office online produce delivery service, provided by Field Goods. Field Goods offers a variety of selections including fruit and vegetable bag subscriptions, pasture-raised meats, and à la carte local produce options from over 60 small farms and producers.

In total there were 57 companies recognized for their wellness initiatives. The Healthy Workplace Employer Recognition Program has become the premiere award in Connecticut, recognizing the outstanding achievements of businesses and organizations in implementing employee health and wellness programs.