LoneStart Wellness co-founder Jay Seifert to present at 2008 Texas Workers Comp Forum

When top executives show they value wellness, and value their employees by offering a proven and proactive wellness program, the benefits are contagious, reflected in healthy employees, reduced workers comp claims and ultimately, healthy profits.

LoneStart Wellness co-founder Jay Seifert will speak at the 5th Annual Texas Workers’ Comp Forum on October 3. Seifert will present a LoneStart Wellness case study and make the case for “Employer Wellness Programs That Work! Keeping Employees Healthy to Reduce Your Costs.” The 3-day forum is a state conference designed for senior level workers’ comp claims managers, HR and Benefits managers, and risk management professionals. The conference will be held in Dallas at the Fairmont Hotel. More than 200 attendees are expected. Seifert will talk about how LoneStart promotes the concept of “Viral Wellness,” and how proactive policies can significantly reduce workers’ comp costs by preventing injury, since healthy employees are less likely to suffer a debilitating injury. He will also explain how the LoneStart Wellness Initiative improves morale and work performance, while at the same time producing a demonstrable return on investment. The importance of buy-in from management and staff will be discussed, and he will explain why developing a corporate culture of wellness is becoming ever more critical to an organization’s profitability. Seifert points out that, "It takes time to build a culture of wellness within the workplace. It happens over time, employee by employee. Through LoneStart’s strategy to make wellness viral, we are spearheading an epidemic of healthy choices. That's what viral wellness is about. But, unless company leadership 'catches' it, really gets it, it will never be fully integrated into the organization's culture." An estimated 30 to 45 percent of medical claims today are directly attributable to lifestyle choices such as obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, and physical inactivity. Obesity is now more costly to U.S. companies than smoking or alcoholism. When top executives show they value wellness, and value their employees by offering a proven and proactive wellness program, the benefits are contagious, reflected in healthy employees and healthy profits, says Seifert. "It's not about handing out corporate gym memberships, but it is about organizations showing employees they care, and then presenting a workable wellness opportunity scaled to fit into any lifestyle." About LoneStart The LoneStart Wellness Initiative is based on the premise that each of us must take personal responsibility to make better nutritional choices and become more physically active. The behavior-based strategy provides participants with the opportunity and tools to make modest yet meaningful changes that lead to long term, sustainable results. Visit their Web site at http://www.lonestartnow.com

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LoneStart Wellness offers a solution to our country’s epidemic of overweight, obesity and inactivity, for the workplace as well as for individual participants. We must begin to take responsibility for our own personal health and wellness.