Powerful Partnership: NRG Joins Forces with American Diabetes Association® to Enhance Employee Wellness

May 25, 2017 9:50 AM ET

NRG Power Perspectives

We’re proud to announce a new philanthropic partnership with the American Diabetes Association (Association). A collaboration between positiveNRG and NRG’s Human Resources team, our partnership with the Association realizes the positiveNRG pillar of health and wellness with the goal of helping to both prevent and delay diabetes while improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease.

“Many Americans spend the majority of their day at work, so it’s vitally important for our workplaces to encourage healthy habits,” said Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD, CPsychol, vice president of lifestyle management for the American Diabetes Association. “We are excited that NRG has joined the Association to promote health and wellness in the workplace with a focus on improving the health of its more than 10,000 employees across the country. By supporting our Wellness Lives Here Initiative, National Get Fit Don't Sit DayTM and signature events, NRG is leading its employees to live healthfully.”

Others agree, a sustainable workforce is a workforce that is healthy. The Center for Disease Control (CDC’s) sustainability page reports that a positive wellness culture in the workplace contributes to the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of workers. Similarly, UC Davis describes wellness as “an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.” The definition continues, “Wellness is more than being free from illness; it is a dynamic process of change and growth.” In this way, a sustainable workforce is one that is centered in wellness. Achieving wellbeing is the cornerstone of a higher quality of life – our health impacts all of our actions and emotions, so we need to take care of ourselves and each other.

Diabetes kills more Americans than AIDS and breast cancer combined. NRG’s support will contribute to research and education programs aimed at improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes, while bolstering NRG’s employee wellness efforts.

“The most valuable resource we have as an organization is our employees. It’s our duty to ensure that we provide the best available tools, education and support to the entire workforce to ensure that they’re equipped to take care of themselves both within the workplace and at home” said Jennifer Brunelle, Director, positiveNRG. “Our partnership with Association is one more tool in our toolkit to ensure we’re taking a holistic approach to caring for our employees.”

You can learn more about the American Diabetes Association and their work at diabetes.org.