ValueOptions Congratulates Michelin North America as Winner of the 2012 EASNA Corporate Award

NORFOLK, Va., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions®, a health improvement company that specializes in health, emotional wellbeing and performance improvement, congratulates their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) client, Michelin North America as they win the 8th Annual Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA) Corporate Award.

Each year EASNA acknowledges one American and one Canadian company that demonstrates excellence in their use of EAP programming and service delivery. An independent panel of judges reviewed submissions and selected Michelin North America for their excellent integration of ValueOptions EAP services to ensure the health and wellbeing of their company's workforce.

"This is a tremendous honor for Michelin North America," Michelin's EAP Benefits Manager, Jim West said, "We integrate our EAP into every strategic initiative that focuses on employee wellbeing. Our leaders see this as an integral part of our business strategy. It is reward enough to see the positive impact this has on our workforce, but this award is an important acknowledgement."

Michelin North America has an extensive commitment to ensuring that a comprehensive EAP is available and also promotes its value to employees and family members.  As part of its "Choose Well-Live Well" corporate wellness program, the company has stated goals for improving health and productivity and reducing absenteeism, presenteeism and health care costs. The Michelin Employee Life Services (MELS) is a core component of the program. 

Utilization of the MELS program, which includes EAP, work-life and legal and financial services, has grown by 41% since 2009 – leading to a 12.11% utilization rate in 2011.  Key to this growth is how Michelin leverages its vendors and communications through the wellness program.

The MELS program uses typical promotion tools, but also uses atypical tactics such as a data-driven initiative to promote work-life programs, and leverages both Michelin employees (including wellness champions) and wellness vendors to promote the value of EAP.

Moreover, the company coordinates communication and focus on work-life issues (which are less stigmatizing), resulting in a significant increase in work-life usage (171%) year over year.  Employees and their family members now recognize that MELS not only assists with the traditional issues addressed by EAP, but also a wide spectrum of life's everyday issues.

Michelin North America also incentivized EAP providers through a higher reimbursement rate, so participants complete a client feedback form (CFF) following counseling sessions. This process clearly demonstrated that monitoring outcomes and providing feedback to clinicians reduces treatment failures.  Furthermore, provider outcomes for 2010-2011 demonstrated a 23% reduction in absenteeism and a 43% reduction in presenteeism.

"Michelin North America is an excellent example of how a company can truly maximize the return on investment for an Employee Assistance Program," states Rich Paul, ValueOptions' Senior Vice president of Health and Performance Solutions. "They are reducing absenteeism and boosting productivity and performance. And most importantly, they are succeeding in building a corporate culture of wellness that is making a positive impact on the health of employees and their families. It is truly an honor to be a part of their team."

About ValueOptions

ValueOptions® is a health improvement company that serves more than 32 million individuals. On behalf of employers, health plans and government agencies, we manage innovative programs and solutions that directly address the challenges our health care system faces today. A national leader in the fields of mental and emotional wellbeing, recovery and resilience, employee assistance, and wellness, ValueOptions helps people make the difficult life changes needed to be healthier and more productive. With offices nationwide and a network of more than 127,000 provider locations, ValueOptions helps people take important steps in the right direction. We help them live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, Earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin-us.com) employs more than 22,300 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

About EASNA

EASNA is a trade association focused on advancing knowledge, research, and best practices toward achieving healthy and productive workplaces. Comprised of thought leaders and change agents, EASNA focuses on ensuring that the EA field continues to grow and flourish by broadening its base of engaged and committed stakeholders. Visit http://www.easna.org/ for more information.

SOURCE ValueOptions