ClearVision Optical

Best Programs of the Year

Healthy Workplace Program of the Year

ClearVision Optical

What the company does: ClearVision Optical is a privately-owned designer and distributor of eyewear based in Hauppauge, NY. Implemented in 2010, ClearVision’s

Corporate Wellness program provides its 140 employees with physical, emotional, and financial wellness resources. The goals of the wellness program are not only to improve morale and employee retention, but to reduce absenteeism, generate greater productivity, and reduce medical benefit costs.

Program details: ClearVision launched the program with a Wellness Week. The week’s activities included: a health fair featuring an onsite chiropractor, blood pressure and skin cancer screenings, and other services; the opening of the company Zen Den, which allowed employees to de-stress throughout the day using massage, reiki, and aroma therapy, and an onsite seminar provided by Bethpage Federal Credit Union that provided information on tax preparation, 529 plans, and more.

The company’s ongoing program includes the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a service that offers free counseling to employees and their families in need of various services, including financial counseling. They also offer Health Advocate, a free service that provides assistance in researching health conditions, locating doctors, and making necessary medical appointments. Additional elements of the program include:

• Monday MOJO: a weekly inspirational email message sent to all employees by the company’s executive vice president, Peter Friedfeld.
• Onsite meetings and webinars presenting the various medical benefits and services available through the company health plan.
• Weight Watchers: a fully subsidized program, ClearVision hosted onsite meetings and tracked participant results.
• Elder care programs: onsite seminars provided concrete steps to navigate this complex, emotional issue, with particular emphasis on elder care laws and the necessary documentation to protect aging loved ones.
• Car pool incentives: Established front-row parking for carpooling employees, and raffled gas cards each month for this program’s participants.

While it is too early in the wellness program to determine if the initiatives have cut down on absenteeism, they have been able to measure other results. Thanks to the Weight Watchers program, the 21 employees who participated lost a total of 176 pounds over a 12-week period. Based on this success, many of their original members have rejoined and recruited new members.

Managers reported that employees who visited the Zen Den demonstrated increased productivity and an overall positive attitude in the weeks that followed. Participants reported that this initiative made them feel that ClearVision cared about their emotional and physical well-being, and that they felt more energized and enthusiastic about their work.

Tips for implementing your own program: According to Jennifer Trakhtenberg, ClearVision’s Senior Talent Leader, launching a successful wellness program starts by taking the time to listen to what your employees truly need. Surveys are a great eye-opener, and the results may take you down a different path than you initially planned or expected. For example, you may think many of your employees would benefit from initiatives that focus on successful parenting, yet find a significant portion would prefer to learn about elder care and the requirements for effectively protecting these loved ones.

She also suggests connecting with local businesses for support, and utilizing the skills of your own staff. “We partner with local resources and network with those who align with our culture, creating mutually beneficial opportunities and initiatives,” she says. “This has allowed us to provide a more robust offering of programs that appeal to our employees. For example, the Hauppauge community alone has many wellness professionals that are willing to provide services at either a significantly reduced fee, or free of charge. We offer weekly yoga classes under the direction of a ClearVision employee, and we seek out employees with special wellness talents who wish share their expertise in a fun, educational forum.”