(December 16, 2008) Two members of the California Chamber of Commerce have received 2008 Gold California Fit Business Awards from the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness.

CalChamber members Cisco Systems Inc. of San Jose and the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) were among just four businesses that received Gold awards from the task force.

More than 80 businesses across the state applied for this year’s award. The task force launched the program in 2003 to acknowledge California businesses that are recognizing and promoting workplace wellness through easy-access physical activity and nutrition options.

The task force recognized honorees in three categories: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The winners were selected using an uncompetitive rating system based upon the breadth of their health and wellness programs; the quality and focus of their policies; the involvement of their leadership; the impact of their endeavors; and the reasons given for having wellness programs.

Each application was evaluated by two expert reviewers independent of the task force. The entire review process took more than two months.

Award Winners

Following is more information about the CalChamber members that received a Gold 2008 California Fit Business Award:

• Cisco Systems Inc. (San Jose). This is the second year in a row that Cisco Systems has won a Gold award. Building a culture of health continues to be a top priority for this innovative and health conscious employer. The Internet networking company has more than 17,000 employees in its San Jose headquarters.

Cisco’s Health Connections Program integrates health risk assessments, on-site health screenings, health coaching, condition management and health education into a seamless program for the Cisco family.

Employees have access to a variety of healthy food options through the on-site cafes, including the Health Connections meal, a nutritionally balanced option that is reduced-fat, low in sodium and fewer than 600 calories. Cafe food stations label organic, vegan, vegetarian and low-fat menu items and also list comparative nutritional information.

Cisco’s on-site fitness centers service about 1,000 employees daily and offer personal training, wellness seminars and more than 660 group fitness classes per quarter. This fall, Cisco will open a state of-the-art, on-site center for employees and their family members with integrated health care, fitness and child care facilities.

• Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (Sacramento). Inspired by a strongly committed management team, SMUD has a highly developed wellness culture. SMUD’s success is evidenced by increased participation rates and a budget solely allocated to supporting employee health.

The Wellness Program strongly encourages physical fitness: SMUD regularly hosts intra-company walk/runs, sponsors marathons, offers gift card rewards to employees for reaching stepping milestones and permits exercise on company time. Use of the on-site fitness center increased 300 percent this year.

In addition, employees receive a $100 incentive to participate in the company’s Healthy Lifestyle Program, which assesses an individual’s health and coaches employees on wellness issues through monthly education seminars.

SMUD also subsidizes healthy food and beverage choices in its vending machines and cafeteria. The company’s return on investment continues to grow each year. The company estimates a realistic total savings of approximately $579,300 per year by reducing preventable risks through employees’ usage of SMUD’s wellness programming. Employees rated it their top human resource benefit in 2007.

More information about the award is available on the task force website at www.wellnesstaskforce.org.