Cleveland Clinic Expands Wellness Benefits to Dependents

Cleveland Clinic now offers their wellness programs free of charge not only to employees, but to dependents as well. Free benefits include weight loss programs, smoking cessation treatment and medications, and fitness center memberships.

This is just one more step in a progressive wellness initiative that began in 2005. That year, Cleveland Clinic instituted smoke free campuses and in 2007 stopped hiring smokers. Since then, they have banned trans fats from their cafeterias and paitent meals.

By making wellness a "family benefit" Cleveland Clinic hopes to be an employer of choice.

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Chattanooga Hospital Not Hiring Tobacco Users

Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga has decided not to hire tobacco users. The Hospital indicates this decision was made as part of its commitment to a healthy community and not to save health benefit costs. The new rule does not impact current employees. The hospital will add nicotine testing to its existing program to screen for illegal drugs.

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