Posts Tagged ‘Health and Wellness’

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BayPoint Benefits partners with Emerge Workplace Solutions

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

We are happy to announce a new partnership with Emerge Workplace Solutions!

The Emerge financial wellness program helps employees focus on their jobs by providing practical solutions to everyday financial stressors, achievable recommendations, and customized resources for a full range of personal and job-related financial issues; 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information click on the LINK

The membership is exclusive for BayPoint Benefits clients. BayPoint Benefits clients will be able to access the premier workplace financial wellness benefit, Emerge Workplace Solutions (“Emerge”), FREE (for the lifetime of your company) for all Baypoint clients that currently employ less than 100 employees. We have established a relationship with Emerge to offer our clients an entire Financial Wellness Benefit Program with a complete Wellness Resource Center with best-in-class online multimedia, including interactive courses and quizzes, video e-learning, financial calculators, and webinars; as well as a fast, simple, and FAIR way for employees to receive up to $2,500 in case of a financial emergency.

The program has been designed to operate with NO EXTRA work for HR and absolutely NO liability–ever–to the employer. Emerge is currently retailing for $3.00- $9.00 per employee, per year, but through this partnership Emerge is offering their entire 100% turnkey Financial Wellness Benefit Program FREE (for the lifetime of each company) for any Baypoint Benefit client that currently employs less than 100 employees.

If you are currently a BayPoint Benefits client and you are interested in the program please email melinda.engelman@baypointbenefits.com.

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Are you protecting your skin from the sun?

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

The days start getting warmer and most of us spend more time outside- it feels great! But the questions is, are you protecting your skin from the sun? Are you putting sunscreen on everyday? And are you eating the right foods to protect you from skin cancer? Here are a few tips to help you stay safe over the warm summer months and most importantly all year long.

1. Stay out of the midday sun (from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon), which is the strongest sunlight. Find shade if you need to be outdoors. Wear hats and protect your skin with light long sleeve shirts.

2. Make sure you have sunglasses with UV ray protection. Many cheap brands don’t have this and it’s always good to check.

3. Use a sunscreen that has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher. Sunscreens that say “broad-spectrum” can protect the skin from ultraviolet A and B (UVA & UVB) rays. Sunscreens come in lotions, gels, creams, and ointments.

4. Apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going in the sun. Make sure you put your kids sunscreen on in the morning when they wake-up and then reapply as the day goes on. Keep track of when you last put the sunscreen on.

5. Apply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours while in the sun and after swimming or sweating a lot. The SPF value decreases if a person sweats heavily or is in water, because water on the skin reduces the amount of protection the sunscreen provides. Sunscreen effectiveness is also affected by the wind, humidity, and altitude.

6. Citrus Fruits – Lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits are some of the fruits with the highest content of vitamin C. Getting enough vitamin C in your diet can help prevent illnesses such as the common cold and the flu, but may also have skin cancer preventative benefits as well.

These are just a few tips to remind you to take care of your skin. Protecting your skin is part of your overall health and wellness.

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Starting with a 5K – Ending with a Triathlon, Part 4

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

We are now into part 4 of our blog on preparing for a Triathlon. Our last blog provided a training schedule for a half marathon, we hope this helped you start training. Instead of focusing on the training schedule for a full marathon we are going to give you some tips for training and running a full marathon. Hopefully these tips will inspire you to push yourself to a full marathon.

1. Shoes & Socks - Select the shoes–and the socks–you’ll wear in the marathon. The shoes should be relatively lightweight but provide good support, and the socks should be the type you wear in other races. If the shoes aren’t your regular training shoes, wear them on at least one 10-mile run at marathon pace. Make sure you are very comfortable in the shoes and socks and if you are not be sure to change them before the marathon and do another practice run.

2. Run a Half Marathon – Don’t just break into a full marathon, make sure you run a half before. Aim to run the half-marathon slightly faster than your marathon goal pace. If you can’t find a tune-up race, recruit friends to accompany you on a long run, with the last several miles faster than marathon pace.

3. Drink on the Run - Make sure you stay hydrated and remember that sports drinks do triple duty when compared with water by providing fluid, carbohydrates, and electrolytes, the most important being sodium. Find out how often your marathon will have aid stations, and practice drinking at that rate. If you don’t run with fluids, place bottles along your training route. It’s important to do this so you are prepared for drinking during the real race.

4. Pick the right outfit - Once you’ve picked your marathon outfit, make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin. It’s a good idea to do a practice run with your outfit on, including shirt, shorts, socks, etc… being comfortable will help your marathon performance.

5. Clock Work – If possible, run at the same time of day as the start of your marathon. This way, your body’s rhythms–including the all-important bathroom routine–will be in sync with marathon needs come race day. The more times you can do this, the better, but shoot for at least the last three days before the race.

Good luck running a full marathon and accomplishing your health and wellness goals.

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National Walk @ Lunch Day – Are You Walking?

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

Wednesday of last week was National Walk @ Lunch Day. We thought it would be fun to write a post on this because it is such a great idea! Are you walking at lunch?

The definition of the day is as follows: National Walk @ Lunch Day is a national workplace walking initiative designed to encourage you to take a walk during your lunch break.  Since walking briskly for 30 minutes can burn up to 200 calories for the average person, a daily walking program can be an effective way to manage weight and blood pressure.  Regular physical activity can improve stamina and reduce fatigue during the work day and at home.

This does no mean that you have to wait a year to take a walk at lunch. This is the time to start a new routine. Instead of sitting at your desk during your lunch and feeling lazy, eat your lunch and then go for a walk. The best way to make this happen is to find a friend who wants to do it with you. Make a commitment to each other that you will walk for 30 minutes two to three times a week. Make it a fun part of your day and make sure you don’t walk the same path everyday – mix it up so you don’t get bored.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost to treat illness and chronic disease caused by inactive lifestyles is nearly $1,000 for every family in America, every year. Simply getting 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, at least five times a week has significant health benefits, lowering the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes and improving the health of muscles, bones and joints.

Let the National Walk @ Lunch Day inspire you to try walking at lunch. See if you can do it for a month and then another and perhaps a full year. It’s important to celebrate your health and wellness and make it a part of your day. Find a buddy and start walking at lunch – you will enjoy it!

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Starting with a 5K – Ending with a Triathlon, Part 2

Monday, April 25th, 2011

Last week we posted a blog about training for a 5K. This week we are featuring part 2, training for a 10K. If you have done a 5K already then your training will be very similar, just more distance and more training.

Let’s start with some key terms to help with training.

Rest: Rest means no running. None. Give your muscles and synapses some serious R&R so all systems are primed for the next workout. Better two quality days and two of total rest than four days of mediocrity resulting from lingering fatigue. Rest days give you a mental break as well, so you’ll come back feeling refreshed.

Easy Runs: Easy runs mean totally comfortable and controlled. If you’re running with someone else, you should be able to converse easily. You’ll likely feel as if you could go faster. Don’t. Here’s some incentive to take it easy: You’ll still be burning 100 calories every mile you run, no matter how slow you go.

Long Runs: Long runs are any steady run at or longer than race distance designed to enhance endurance, which enables you to run longer and longer and feel strong doing it. A great long-run tip: Find a weekly training partner for company. You’ll have plenty of time to talk about anything that comes up.

Speedwork: Speedwork means bursts of running shorter than race distance, some at your race goal pace, some faster. This increases cardiac strength, biomechanical efficiency that translates into more miles per gallon, and the psychological toughness racing demands. That said, you’re not trying to kill yourself. Keep it fun.

One of the ways to train for a 10K is by doing a run/walk schedule – see below. Your workout instructions will displayed in run/walk intervals. The first number displayed will be the amount of minutes to run and the second number is the amount to walk. So, for example, 1/1 means run for 1 minute, then walk for 1 minute. Make sure that you always start your workouts with a 5 to 10 warm up.

10 Week Training Program for beginners:

Week 1:
Day 1: 1/1 x 10 (1 minute run, 1 minute walk x 10, for a total of 20 minutes)
Day 2: 1/1 x 10
Day 3: 1/1 x 10
Day 4: 40-45 minutes cross-training

Week 2:
Day 1: 1/1 x 11
Day 2: 1/1 x 12
Day 3: 1/1 x 13
Day 4: 40-45 minutes cross-training

Week 3:
Day 1: 1/1 x 15
Day 2: 1/1 x 15
Day 3: 1/1 x 15
Day 4: 45 min cross-training

Week 4:
Day 1: 2/1 x 10
Day 2: 2/1 x 10
Day 3: 2/1 x 10
Day 4: 45 min cross-training

Week 5:
Day 1: 2/1 x 10
Day 2: 3/1 x 10
Day 3: 2/1 x 14
Day 4: 45 min cross-training
Day 5: 30 min cross-training

Week 6:
Day 1: 3/1 x 10
Day 2: 3/1 x 8
Day 3: 3/1 x 11
Day 4: 45 min cross-training
Day 5: 30 min cross-training

Week 7:
Day 1: 3/1 x 10
Day 2: 3/1 x 8
Day 3: 3/1 x 13
Day 4: 45 min cross-training
Day 5: 30 min cross-training

Week 8:
Day 1: 3/1 x 10
Day 2: 3/1 x 10
Day 3: 3/1 x 15
Day 4: 45 min cross-training
Day 5: 30 min cross-training

Week 9:
Day 1: 3/1 x 10
Day 2: 3/1 x 10
Day 3: 3/1 x 17
Day 4: 45 min cross-training
Day 5: 30 min cross-training

Week 10:
Your 10K is this week! You’re going to take it a little easier this week, so that you’re well-rested for your big race. Good luck! Day 1: 2/1 x 10
Day 2: 30 min cross-training
Day 3: 3/1 x 5

Good luck training for a 10k!

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Starting with a 5K – Ending with a Triathlon, Part 1

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Have you ever thought about completing a 5K, what about a Triathlon? Does this sound overwhelming and difficult? The answer is probably YES and this is why you haven’t done it. However, if you start small, set a goal, and make a plan you can do it! We are going to give you advice in 5 blogs on how to train for a 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon, and a Triathlon.

The picture featured to the right is BayPoint Benefits Co-Founder Brian Hassan, who has completed multiple Triathlons over past few years. He’s an avid runner, biker, and swimmer. He highly recommends focusing on nutrition, drinking lots of water, and staying consistent with your training schedule.

Starting with a 5K:

Remember to start off walking, then gradually introduce running. Make sure you get a good pair of shoes designed for running. Don’t try to make do with shoes you bought five years ago and have been wearing for yard work. You will end up injured and your running plans will have to be postponed. Visit your local running retailer for information on purchasing the best shoes for you.

This is a 12 week program for beginners. This is for people who have passed a physical but have done little exercise. If you can complete this program, you should be ready to participate in a 5k!

The first eight weeks of the program are based on time. The time suggested should be spent exercising, which at this stage means walking and running. All running should be gentle as far as effort goes, which means that it should be fat burning or aerobic conditioning.  If you are using a heart rate monitor, every step the first eight weeks should be under 75% of maximum heart rate (if you do not know your max HR, use the formula 220 – age until better information is available). If you are not using a monitor, the exercise should be at an effort in which conversational talking is possible.

The last four weeks of the program are based on distance. At this point in the program you should be able to run pretty much the entire distance without any walking.

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
Week 1 15 mins off 15 mins off 15 mins 20 mins off
Week 2 15 mins off 15 mins off 15 mins 25 mins off
Week 3 20 mins off 20 mins off 20 mins 30 mins off
Week 4 20 mins off 20 mins off 20 mins 30 mins off
Week 5 25 mins off 20 mins off 25 mins 35 mins off
Week 6 25 mins off 30 mins off 25 mins 40 mins off
Week 7 30 mins off 25 mins off 30 mins 45 mins off
Week 8 30 mins off 30 mins off 30 mins 45 mins off

Based on miles:

Week 9        3         off             3            off         3             4          off

Week 10      3         off              4            off        3             4          off

Week 11       4         off             4            off         4             5           off

Week 12       4         off            4            off          1            5K Race off

The next blog we will provide a 10K training schedule. Good luck and be sure you set a goal for yourself and stick to it.

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Are your employees educated on their benefits?

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

When is the last time you asked your employees if they could tell you about their benefit package? Do your employees understand the benefits you are providing? Most likely the answer is “No.”

Unfortunately many companies have not made it a priority to communicate to their employees the information regarding their benefits. This needs to change. Although employees may not be asking about their benefits it’s so important as an employer to make sure you are taking the time to communicate this information. Someone might ask, why should we care? Understanding benefits will help both the health and financial security of your employees, two things that are key to employee retention. With the cutbacks of HR employees and the confusion around the health reform, it’s sad to say that the communication is lacking. Employees are signing up for benefits and not really thinking through their selections.

What are some of the things you can do as an employer to help educate your employees?

  1. Make sure you understand how your employees prefer to receive benefit communication. Is it by email? Mail? Phone?
  2. Are you working with a benefits to broker to make sure you are getting the best and most appropriate packages for your employees?
  3. Are you tailoring your communication to specific people in your company rather than sending out mass emails etc…?
  4. Research shows – about 24% of employees surveyed indicate that they tend to choose the same benefits; 44% read some information and possibly discuss options with a relative or friend, but in general don’t make many modifications from year to year.

Educating and communicating to your employees the importance of understanding their benefits is key to a healthy work environment. If you have questions regarding benefits it’s always important to contact your benefits adviser.

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Music, Laughter, & Your Health

Friday, March 25th, 2011

When is the last time you laughed out loud? When is the last time you listened to a good song? In a recent article on CNN.com it explains that researchers found that people who took part in bimonthly group sessions built around music or laughter lowered their systolic blood pressure (the top number in the reading) by an average of five to six points after three months. By contrast, the average blood-pressure reading in a control group that received neither therapy didn’t budge.

This shows that there must be a psychological effect happening. The heart and mind are very much connected and using these types of alternative remedies to lower blood pressure are very promising.

Here are 5 ways to fight stress and help your heart:

    1. Focus on relaxation - stress-reduction techniques and exercises such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi have been shown to lower stress hormones and bolster immune function.
    2. Connect with friends – spending extra time with friends can help not only with your mental health, but with your heart health. Laughing and sharing experiences together are very healthy activities for the entire body.
    3. Don’t hold grudges - research suggests that people experience more psychological stress and higher heart rates when they hold grudges than when they grant forgiveness.
    4. Laugh & lighten up – laughter can burn up to 20% more calories than keeping that poker face, according to a 2005 study, which monitored adults while they watched funny and not-so-funny film clips.
    5. Cut the caffeine – caffeine can quickly raise your fight-or-flight response and all the attendant stress hormones.

      We hope these tips will help you stay healthy. Health and wellness are very important, especially if you are struggling with stress at work. Make sure you understand the importance of your employee’s health and overall wellness.

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      5 TIPS TO MORE HAPPINESS!

      Thursday, March 10th, 2011

      Sometimes it’s easier to say you are happy than to be happy. As part of our focus on health and wellness we are going to look at 5 things will make you happier. It’s not always easy to do these things, but thinking about them everyday will help inspire you to be happier. We hope you can take a few minutes and look over these tips.

      1. Be Grateful: Take a few minutes everyday to be grateful, perhaps it’s sending a thank you note or a letter to a good friend. Studies have shown that when be are grateful they have an increase in happiness.

      2. Be Optimistic: Optimistic thinking is very important to happiness. Waking up in the morning, smiling, and telling yourself  you will have a good day will lead to increased happiness.

      3. Count Your Blessings: Research has shown that people who sit down each week and write three good things that have happened to them are happier. This exercise gives people the ability to reflect on the positive things in their lives, rather than negative things

      4. Commit Acts of Kindness: Helping others can help yourself. By doing acts of kindness you will feel better about yourself and ultimately lead to a happier lifestyle. Small acts of kindness count as well. Spending a few hours helping a friend, donating to a charity, or volunteering are simple ways to help another.

      5. Use Your Strengths: What are you good at? What do you shine at doing? Using your strengths will make you happier and will also make the people around you happier. Are you good at organizing meetings? If so, you should be the one arranging them and ultimately this will make you happier.

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      “Yes, we still make things here in San Francisco” – SFMade & BayPoint Benefits

      Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

      “Yes, we still make things here in San Francisco,” as stated on the website of SFMade. We are excited to announce that recently BayPoint became a founding partner of SFMade. SFMade is headquartered in San Francisco and was established in 2010. They are a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

      SFMade’s mission is to build and support a vibrant manufacturing sector in San Francisco,  that sustains companies producing locally-made products, encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, and creates employment opportunities for a diverse local workforce.

      SFMade is the only organization of its kind focused on building San Francisco’s economic base by developing the local manufacturing sector. SFMade engages directly with entrepreneurs and growing small companies, all of whom are headquartered in and manufacture within San Francisco, offering industry-specific education, networking opportunities, and connecting these companies to powerful local resources.

      SFMade also offers educational workshops, factory tours, and programs in the following areas of interest:

      In press release sent on January 3, 2011 Brian Hassan, Founder and Managing Director of BayPoint Benefits said,  “Working with SFMade seemed to be a natural fit.  Given our involvement in advising emerging clients and incubator facilities, we felt that our skills and resources would provide great benefit to the SFMade portfolio of clients.  They are an exceptional team with a brilliant vision.  We strongly believe in their mission of keeping jobs in San Francisco and will dedicate the resources and capital needed to assist them in achieving their goals.”

      If you are interested in SFMade’s events click here. Another great resource is SFMade’s blog – http://www.sfmade.org/sfmade-blog/

      BayPoint Benefit’s is excited to be working with SFMade.

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