Recognizing the importance of healthy employees, has taken an interesting turn at Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union and O Bee Credit Union. In a very creative approach to worksite wellness, the two organizations have launched a competition, which pits credit union against credit union — to the victor going the spoils, or in this case goes the healthy breakfast.

Not unlike 81 percent of U.S. businesses who recognize the positive health outcomes associated with worksite wellness programs, PCFCU and OBCU promote employee wellness in various ways, including their most recent endeavor, the “10k-A-Day” walking competition.

Organized by PCFCU Human Resources VP, Gail Ryan, and OBCU HR VP, Melanie Ransom, the program challenges employees to take 10,000 steps a day and awards the credit union with the highest average number of steps with a free breakfast — compliments of the losing credit union’s CEO.

Reflecting their commitment to supporting and inspiring employee wellness, CEO’s Steve Gorseth/PCFCU and Bruce Cramer/OBCU are also very involved in the competition. They are even featured in promotional posters, which highlight the two, faced-off, head to head on treadmills.

Group Health, the health care provider for both credit unions, supplies pedometers for the 10-K Walk participants, providing each walker with an easy way to track their daily steps. Additional motivation for participants comes in the form of company bulletin boards, which are decorated with paper cut-outs of sneakers - each bearing a walker’s name and their distance traveled thus far.

“We’ve always supported wellness programs, but this program has far exceeded our expectation,” explains PCFCU co-organizer and human resources VP, Gail Ryan. “Eighty-four percent of our employees have signed up for the competition.”

OBCU is experiencing similar success with 75 percent of their employees participating in the “10k A Day” competition. “Everyone’s excited about the competition. Throughout the day we’ll ask one another, “How far have you walked?” says OBCU HR VP, Melanie Ransom.

The competitive nature of programs such as the 10k-A-Day, encourages wellness among employees by going beyond indistinct platitudes such as “be active” by giving employees a definitive goal to shoot for each day — 10,000 steps — and a precise way of measuring just how well they are doing.

Regardless of the outcome, both companies come out winners. Not only will the competition result in healthier, happier employees, the enthusiastic buzz it creates makes for a more productive and energized workplace.

If your company is interested in getting a walking program started, it’s an easy enough process to kick off. And in terms of options, a departmental competition will work just as well as a company vs. company competition.

Your health care provider may provide pedometers or they’re an easy purchase at any Wal-Mart for less than $4 each. Give it a try and experience first hand the benefits of educating and promoting wellness within your workplace.