Since 2011, Mukilteo has received the Association of Washington Cities’ (AWC) Employment Benefit Trust WellCity Award resulting in an annual 2% premium discount for employee medical premiums. Annual savings to the City make a difference in many ways.
“Earning the WellCity Award has taken a commitment by our elected officials, directors and staff,” stated Mayor Jennifer Gregerson. “Lowering our medical premium cost is good business for our taxpayers, but also supporting and encouraging healthy behaviors benefits everyone. The community benefits from more productive, engaged employees, employees have improved health, morale and reduced risks of a serious health event, and the City reduces its expenditure of health care dollars, sick days and other related costs. It’s a win-win”.
In addition to the 2% medical premium discount, the AWC Trust provides additional support as a broad-based strategy to improve employee health and productivity. Onsite health screenings, health coaching, a nurse advise line, live and on-demand webinars are among the many tools available to the City’s Wellness Coordinator, Lila Robinson, Senior Department Assistant with the Mukilteo Fire Department. Lila’s most recent Wellness activity involved improving sleep quality, and many employees participated in it.
In 2016, AWC estimates that nearly $3 million were saved in medical premiums for the 112 WellCity Award city recipients. The City of Mukilteo has invested in an employee wellness program since 2009.
