EXPANSION OF FREE FITNESS AND

 NUTRITION CLASSES

 

 

The Wellness Committee continues to review the class offerings and consider new options to expand the available menu of classes.  Effective January 1, 2009, the free class program has been expanded to include a quarterly individual membership to the Johnson County Park & Recreation District’s (JCPRD) Athletic Training Center (ATC).  In addition, on-site fitness classes will be offered when there is sufficient interest at a specific site for a particular class. 

 

Please remember, to be eligible for the free class program, a person must still be a full-time or part-time benefits-eligible County employee; this includes the two new programs. 

 

The following descriptions explain how the new programs work and any pertinent rules you need to be aware of:

 

  1. Athletic Training Center (ATC):

You can now use one of your free classes to obtain a free individual quarterly (3 month) membership to the Athletic Training Center (ATC), the JCPRD fitness facility located at 9301 W. 73rd Street, Merriam (just north of Shawnee Mission Medical Center).  The membership includes full use of all fitness training equipment, on-site fitness classes, and the racquetball courts.

 

Important Note: Since this facility is not substantially for the use of County employees and is available to the public, IRS regulations require it to be considered a fringe benefit and the value of the membership is a taxable benefit and appropriate withholdings will be applied.  The value of the membership will be reported on your W-2 as earned income.

 

Many employees who have not previously used the ATC choose a class such as "Come As You Want", which provides you a punch card and you can go to the ATC to use the equipment or attend an on-site class, to try out the ATC before enrolling in a membership.  Your Punch Card enables you to use the same services as a membership.  Under the new, expanded free fitness class program (still allows four classes per year); you can use a quarterly membership at the ATC as one of your free classes.  

 

The discounted costs for an Individual membership is $220 per year and for Family (employee plus one or more dependents) is $440. We will now apply the cost of an Individual membership ($220) if you complete the four quarterly class registration forms to the cost of a Family membership leaving you a balance of $220 for the entire YEAR. In addition, the $220 can be payroll deducted if you so desire. To summarize your options for ATC utilization:

 

1.      Use your four classes to get an Individual membership for the year. Must be applied for and renewed on a quarterly basis.

2.      Use your four classes to obtain Punch Cards for the class "Come As You Want" for you and/or your spouse.  Must send in new Form every time the Punch Card is exhausted.

3.      Use your four classes to have the Family membership cost reduced from $440 to $220.  Must be applied for and renewed on a quarterly basis.

 

  1. On-Site Fitness Classes:

The Wellness Committee is partnering with JCPRD to bring specific fitness classes to designated County sites.  Initially, classes are being offered at the Administration Building and the Sunset Building but will be scheduled wherever there is sufficient interest to guarantee adequate attendance.  Classes being offered are: Yoga, Pilates, Strengthening, and Body Combo.  All are low impact classes intended to improve physical and mental fitness.

 

To discover the dates and times of these classes, access the calendar of wellness program located on the Wellness U web-site.  Also found under the “Forms” tab is a Class Request Form which can be used to request that an available class be scheduled at your work-site location.  This Form can be sued to schedule the Well-Life classes or on-site fitness classes, subject to availability.

 

The following are existing components of the free class program:

 

·         An employee can enroll in up to four free classes per calendar year.  Unused classes do not carry over to the next year.

·         The allotted 4 classes can be shared with a spouse, if desired (4 classes total between employee and spouse).

·         Eligible classes can be selected from the following sections of the JCPRD catalog: "Aquatics" and "Fitness & Health”.  In addition, specific classes under “Sports” are eligible: Fencing, Martial Arts, Ice Hockey and Golf.  Please see additional details below regarding the golf program.

·         Golf Program available starting March 1 through November 30 includes these three options:

1. Free Green fees at Tomahawk and Heritage courses

2. Free patron card

3. Free group or individual golf instructional classes (see Catalog for details)

Special Note: For free green fees you will receive two (2) free passes for each registration

form.  Only one form can be sent per submittal (maximum of 4 forms). Take your free

pass to either Heritage Park Golf Course or Tomahawk Hills Golf Course for one free

round of golf (per pass). The free pass may only be used by an eligible county employee

or their spouse. The pass must be turned into the golf course at the time of play.

·         The free class program also includes the three nutritional classes offered through the Extension Council: Water with Lemon, Superfoods, and Dining with Diabetes.  There is a separate class registration form for these classes.

·         The free class program also includes classes scheduled at the Public Health Wellness Education Center located at 11875 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe.  There is a separate class registration form for these classes.

·         The free classes also includes the MedGem testing (normally costs $50) when taken in conjunction with the "Nutriwise: Weigh To Go!" free class offered through Well-Life. 

·         Duathlons and triathlons sponsored and organized through JCPRD (see Catalog).  Additional local community-sponsored, non-JCPRD sponsored events will be considered on a case-by-case basis and reimbursed based on the average cost charged by JCPRD.  Early registration required as late fees will not be covered.

·         Other “Special Events” such as the “13th Annual ‘In Step and In Shape’ Walk” provided the event is health-related and involves a fitness or nutritional counseling purpose, e.g. not Theatre in the Park.

 

It is the Wellness Committee’s intent and desire for you to be able to use the Wellness U web-site to discover all you want to know about the County’s wellness programs and events.

 

Shortcut to Wellness U: http://wellnessu.jocogov.org/

 

 

Wellness Programs by Employment Category

There has been confusion regarding the employment classification criteria to be eligible for the various programs offered by Johnson County.  First of all, these programs are available to County employees only.  Many are distinguished by whether a County employee is full-time (FT), part-time (PT) benefits-eligible or other.

 

Definition of Part-Time Benefits-Eligible: PT benefits-eligible are not eligible for health or dental insurance but do receive vacation and sick time, and are eligible for county-provided life and the deferred compensation plans.  To qualify, they must be regularly scheduled to work 20 or more (but less than 40) hours per week (1040 hours per year).

Participation in the free class program through JCPRD, Public Health and the Extension Council (we offer free classes through all three departments/agencies) is NOT predicated on taking the HRA or being covered under the County's medical plan. The classes are available to ALL full-time and part-time benefits-eligible COUNTY employees.

Participation in the on-site free fitness classes is available to ALL County FT and PT benefits-eligible employees who complete and sign a Class Registration Form.

The free flu vaccinations are available to ALL County employees regardless of employment category and include: On-Call, PT non-benefits eligible, PT benefits-eligible, and full-time employees. All employees receive a free hand sanitizer bottle (2.5 ounce). Likewise, ALL employees are encouraged to attend the annual Wellness Fairs when offered every May of every year.

All employees who meet the eligibility rules stipulated by Kansas City Corporate Challenge (KCCC) can participate in this competition. All County PT and FT employees can participate in any Take Charge Challenge Kansas City (TCCKC) competition offered by the County. All employees can also participate in Walk Kansas and National Walk at Lunch Day.

The HRA Incentive (health risk appraisal) is available only to FT employees enrolled in a County medical plan. Likewise, the spousal HRA Incentive is only paid if the employee takes it and the spouse is covered under a County health plan.

Enrollment for and use of the on-site fitness center(s) is available to ALL full-time and part-time benefits-eligible COUNTY employees who satisfy the three requirements: 1) take the HRA; 2) sign a Participation Agreement; and complete the Fitness Orientation Session.

ALL employees are welcome to use the Wellness U web-site to garner wellness information and discover what free programs are available.