Workplace Wellness: Performance with a Purpose: Achieving Health Dividends for Employers and Employees

I approach this review of the latest entry into the worksite wellness literature with mixed emotion. Printed praise for the book includes a statement that the book has plenty to offer both the beginner and the seasoned veteran. But as a seasoned veteran, I was disappointed by what the book had to offer me. I personally found the book to be basically a rehash of information I already know. I also found the "new" topics included to be superficially addressed. I would list the "new" topic chapters to be: * Building a Culture of Health * What Positive Psychology Offers * Satisfied Employees and the Bottom Line * Leaders as Change Agents This is unfortunate, as I see the "new" topics as being topics about which the worksite wellness community needs more comprehensive information. While this book may have disappointed me, it is still well written, well researched and documented and will serve as a great resource for beginning worksite wellness coordinators. It is clearly deserving of the four star rating I gave it. The five questions found at the end of each chapter are clearly worth both beginner and seasoned veteran alike contemplating and answering. If you are new to the worksite wellness community and process, I think you will find the book to be a helpful resource for you and your organization as you begin your worksite wellness journey. If you are a seasoned veteran already familiar with the worksite wellness literature, this book will serve as a good "big picture" refresher for you. The Success Gallery component found in each chapter is a nice added feature. The Success Gallery reflects the personal stories of employees who have made successful lifestyle changes.

A good guide for job seekers and recruiters. It's interesting to learn about all the politics concerning acquiring talent. However, I do understand its importance and this book really highlights all we need to know about seeking......

Workplace Wellness: Performance with a Purpose: Achieving Health Dividends for Employers and Employees Dr. Rose Gantner's book Workplace Wellness is a winner! It is an intelligent, resourceful, easy-to-read, balanced look at employee and corporate health. She outlines key areas that leaders need to look at in order to create programs that support sustained overall health. No cookie-cutter approach, she encourages each workplace to look at its workforce and examine its own readiness for effective and sustained behavior change. Dr. Gantner not only provides scientific research but provides real-world examples and real-world suggestions. She uses the acronym HEART (Health, Engagement, Action, Resilience, Teamwork) as a way to understand and create lasting change. In her "Success Gallery" sections, she offers real-world examples of achievements. Of particular interest is that Dr. Gantner suggests in her writing an entire paradigm shift which includes positivity, resilience and engagement. She looks at what satisfied employees bring to the "bottom line." Our human capital is important and providing an entire program and culture to improve health in the workplace is not only a win-win for the workplace but a win-win for society! I highly recommend this wonderful book on Workplace Wellness as it is filled with practical ideas and suggestions and numerous resources---it should be on the top list for any leader in an organization! Milena Tatic Bajich, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist [...]

With 30+ years in the workplace fulfilling C-Suite roles for many of the top companies in the USA, Dr. Gantner brings her dedication, energy, enthusiasm, positivity and passion to this book, offering a wide range of strategies and examples from some of our nation's most successful employer programs. Long before readers reach Chapter 6 that focuses on "learning from the best," they will feel the MAGIC of learning from the best, as Gantner gently guides logically, but compassionately on an emotional "HEART" journey.... H-HEALTH to cultivate healthy habits E-ENGAGEMENT to optimize and sustain behavior changes A-ACTION to take small steps R-RESILIENCE to stay connected to life purpose and passion T-TEAMWORK to achieve maximum success and remain competitive in the global markets. More so, with the book always nearby, the reader will have a sherpa guide readily available should any further guidance be needed. It speaks directly to what Madelyn Fernstrom says in her praise for the book, "Simply the best practical guide for workplace wellness success that I have ever seen. Tips, strategies, testimonials, evidence, statistics, FACTS. Best practices, emerging trends and tools too. As a bonus, Gantner also brings knowledge as to how the digital culture is changing the landscape of business, consumerism and the workplace. Like John Riedel, President of Riedel & Associates Consultants, Inc. says: "Whether you're just getting started on your workplace wellness journey or a seasoned veteran exploring new ways to maximize employee heath, this book has plenty to offer." I'm sure this book will be a valuable asset to own.

Not knowing what to expect at first, I picked up this book and wow, was I pleasantly suprised when I finished it. Beginning as a story of corporate healthcare, the author cleverly makes the gradual transition from an educational subject to a subliminal plot of a much deeper and philisophical theme. She uses workplace topics as analogies to examine modern social differences among men while simultaneously analyzing the distant future's intergalactic trade regulations. Set in the post-racially divided human society, man becomes united beyond economic class and race, and experience challenges maintaining and establishing relationships with exterterrestrial beings. Dr. Gantner exposes us to the trivial differences between modern societies and provides light on a darker tomorrow. The author did a fantastic job of character development, though I felt the character representations by "corporations" and "managers" was a bit obvious and frankly uncreative. With her brilliant mind, I have higher expectations. Regardless, the content of the progression of the story and the intergalactic political idealogies were very well conveyed. As an avid future intergalactic trade enthusiast myself, Dr. Gantner's writings not only exposed me to new schools of thought, but also made me think about life in a different way. Her philosophies on the direction of modern society are very thought provoking. One of my few minor complaints is that the book starts out kind of slow. Once you get a few chapters in and pick up on the societal analogies and learn of the character development, it really starts to pick up, especially during the part about the cyborg revolution and their political collapse due to their failure to naturally breed. PROS: The author is extremely creative by writing one thing, but is actually writing about another. CONS: I stongly disagree with her position on intergalactic sex trade. Those poor animals.

Dr. Rose Gantner is a dynamic, motivational speaker who is right on target in identifying how employers and employees have to partner together to stop health care costs from spiraling further out of control. For those NOT fortunate enough to hear her talk to HR directors, union leaders, and senior management at leading wellness conferences across the country, her book, WORKPLACE WELLNESS: PERFORMANCE WITH A PURPOSE, will be a godsend. It outlines: * Undeniable statistics that prove how our lifestyle habits are sabotaging our health; * Socially responsible actions employers can take to support wellness programs for their employees, family members of employees, and local communities; * Sensible steps for setting up corporate and union teams to motivate employees to take control of their own health; * How optimism, resilience, and emotional intelligence can be fostered in the workplace; * How the right wellness programs offered at the right time and with the right support can improve health, raise morale, reduce health care costs, and increase profits. This is the bottom line all of us are willing to tow.

Full disclosure requires that I acknowledge that I had a role in the production of this book--I designed it. However, I had nothing to do with the content, nor will I benefit from book sales in any way. Nor do I write many reviews for the books in which I am involved--it looks odd. All that said, here's why I'm making an exception in this case: This is a book for our time. The issue of healthcare, who should pay for it, and how to achieve it lies at the heart of a national debate. The central weakness in many of the arguments being used both for and against expanded healthcare coverage for Americans is this: they focus on addressing symptoms, rather than fundamental causes. Expanding healthcare is, in my opinion, a good idea; offering ways to reduce healthcare expenses by fostering a healthier population is, also in my opinion, a far better one. And that's one of the things Dr. Gantner's book does: it takes healthcare out of the realm of medicine and places it in the much broader context of our national worklife--and then offers suggestions firmly based in data for ways in which we can cut healthcare costs not by reducing benefits, but by building healthier, happier employees. It's a book about fostering health, rather than correcting illness. A must-read for anyone concerned with employee health, the healthcare debate, and promoting a positive, vigorous workplace.

Workplace Wellness is an eye-opener, a great how-to guide, and a must-read for all CEOs, CFOs, HR leaders, benefits managers - and anyone looking to improve overall business results. I especially appreciated the detailed case studies, and particularly liked Dr. Gantner's line, "We provide value on investment, not ROI, and do things for, not to, employees and their families." It's a stressful world out there, with the World Health Organization declaring workplace stress a global epidemic. I find Dr. Gantner's timely book, addressing that fact and others, to be THE SOURCE for workplace wellness, whose suggestions, when implemented, DO lead to better business results... She's proven that beyond a doubt. Workplace Wellness is about creating a "win-win" situation for employers and employees alike... and kudos on supporting the practice of meditation which is proven to significantly reduce stress and physical pain by up to 57% and speed up any wellness initiative up by 40%. This book, and the invaluable information within it, will remain on my desk, frequently revisited, and it's contents implemented in my businesses, for years to come. Renata Duma Communications Director, Independent Business Owner

It's written like an essay which is a little annoying. But all the info in here is very good.