Varco Pruden Honored as Area’s Healthiest Employer

MEMPHIS, TENN. (April 25, 2013) – Memphis-based Varco Pruden Buildings, one of the nation’s largest providers of commercial and industrial building solutions and a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc., was named one of the Mid-South’s Healthiest Employers by the city’s weekly business publication.

The Memphis Business Journal underscored Varco Pruden’s “wellness initiative on both the national and local levels in naming it the winner in the category of 100- to-499 employees.” The newspaper had two other levels – one to 99 employees and 500-plus employees. 

It is the third consecutive year the MBJ has honored companies “that are making commitments to health and wellness in the workplace.”  Mid-South companies were invited to participate in a survey that measured their workplace wellness efforts. Data from the surveys were collected and an online assessment tool measured wellness programming in six key categories.

The journal saluted Varco Pruden for providing reimbursements to employees toward the cost of medical coverage as well as access to telephonic health coaches who work one-on-one to provide goals and support for achieving those goals.  The company also won kudos for its on-site health screenings and flu shots at no cost to employees.

At its Memphis headquarters, VP has a volunteer team called “VP Healthy Beats” that arranges wellness-related contests and events for employees. In 2012 the events included a walking weight-loss challenge, first aid and CPR training and participation in a marathon.

VP, which allows participation to take place during work hours, said the motivation to provide strong healthcare support to its employees “was triggered by the staggering cost of healthcare” and “consider an investment in the health and well-being of our employees” to be a wise one.  The company’s financial commitment is more than $1 million in wellness incentives paid to employees each year.

Its program is evaluated on an annual basis to ensure it is meeting the core health and wellness needs of its employees.

The newspaper pointed out that “better employee health has been shown to increase productivity among workers as well as lower healthcare costs for both employees and their employers.”

Varco Pruden Buildings is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.  Through advanced engineering and proprietary building products, Varco Pruden provides innovative steel building systems for low-rise commercial and industrial applications, including offices, warehouses, schools, manufacturing, and retail projects.  Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the company markets its products through a network of more than 1,000 authorized builders. VP has affiliations in Europe, Asia and South America and is a member of the MBMA, CSSBI and the USGBC.