Would you walk 1,000 miles for one day of paid vacation?

That’s exactly what has been a lifestyle choice for more than 70 percent of the employees of the Adventist Media Center in suburban Los Angeles—92 of them at last count—who are improving their health in a program that encourages walking during the work day and after hours.

So far, workers have racked up more than 19,000 miles.

The program began Nov. 20, 2002, when Adventist Media Center managers looked for ways to keep healthcare costs under control. They formed their new wellness plan around principles stated in a number of groundbreaking reports from the U.S. Government and other health-focused organizations.

The fast results impressed Bob Stotz, wellness coordinator for the media center. “We are so pleased to have over 70 percent of the media center participating,” said Stotz. “This is a fantastic pace!”

This voluntary program is not limited to walking; other forms of exercise can easily be converted into miles. In addition, participants receive some great incentives. Those who take time to exercise during two daily break times receive an extra five minutes to finish their walks. Plus, every time an employee reaches 1,000 miles, they receive one day of paid vacation. Tangible rewards like water bottles, pens, mini-flashlights, t-shirts, CD cases and stopwatches are also given at various exercise levels.

Mailroom employee Alberto Zavala feels that this program has made a huge difference in his life. “I used to get the flu every year, but now that I’ve started walking, I feel so good all the time,” he said. “Walking keeps me healthy, and I’d recommend it to anyone!”

Two employees have averaged more than 200 exercise miles per month, and one even participated in the Los Angeles Marathon. Ten employees log at least 85 miles each month, and many more are close behind. Since November, at least three people have lost over 40 pounds and almost all participants have experienced improvements in overall health.

This program also takes into account the times of year when people might be less inclined to exercise. As a result, employees received double bonus miles over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Elsworth Hetke, human resources director, continues to closely monitor the center’s healthcare usage. He said, “The media center has recently seen a significant drop in healthcare utilization. Although it’s still too early to determine if this drop is a direct result of the program, it’s very encouraging!”

The Adventist Media Center recently hosted the CHIP program (Coronary Health Improvement Project) in partnership with the Simi Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church and Hospital. The center encouraged employees to participate and even shared some of the registration costs.

In addition to attending longer series, employees are invited to attend lunchtime “Brown Bag” seminars covering various health topics. Every wellness program participant is invited to receive free blood pressure, body composition and grip strength testing in the human resources department. These confidential tests offer an opportunity to encourage, teach and support important health changes.

Stotz defines the purpose of this wellness program as establishing and maintaining a workplace that promotes environmental and social support for a healthful lifestyle. He said, “This not only improves employee health, but also reduces medical costs. It’s a way to put into practice what we preach!”