ARAMARK Recognized for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles

(3BL Media) Philadelphia, PA - July 5, 2012 - ARAMARK has been named one of America’s “2012 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of large US employers.  The company is among an elite group of employers receiving the gold award honors and was recognized “for making cultural and environmental changes and developing comprehensive programs that support healthy lifestyle goals” among its employees.  

“At ARAMARK, we have the commitment and the expertise to help educate, enable and encourage people of all ages to adopt healthier lifestyles,” said Valerie Wandler, Senior Vice President, Human Resources Services, ARAMARK. “Our people are the cornerstone of our business.  Investing in employee health and wellness through our ARAMARK Take Care program promotes a healthy, positive workforce that, in turn, better serves our clients and customers.”

This marks the fourth consecutive year that ARAMARK has been recognized by the National Business Group on Health.

Helen Darling, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health, commented:  “We are very pleased to recognize ARAMARK for its ongoing commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs that encourage healthy lifestyles for their employees.  ARAMARK and its management team should be proud of their dedication and recognizing the importance of promoting and maintaining a healthy workforce. We congratulate them on receiving this award.”

ARAMARK’s Commitment to Health and Wellness

One of ARAMARK’s top priorities has long been the health and wellness of its employees, as well as the customers it serves each day. 

Because ARAMARK touches millions of customers around the world each day, the company is well positioned to have a positive impact on the dining and healthy lifestyle choices of a broad audience of consumers. Throughout its operations, ARAMARK uses its knowledge, culinary expertise, and consumer input to empower healthier environments, experiences and outcomes.  ARAMARK offers healthy food and beverage options to address nutrition and dietary priorities; promotes awareness through health and wellness education and outreach programs; conducts consumer research to study food, nutrition and health trends; and partners with leading nonprofit and governmental organizations to make a greater impact on public health. 

ARAMARK’s Take Care program is designed to promote a culture of wellness among employees and their families, and to provide them with the plans, resources and tools to help with their health, family, finances and future.  The wellness programs available through Take Care span all aspects of an employee’s health, including physical and emotional well-being.

The program offers a full range of confidential, free resources and services, from preventive care to assistance with chronic illness.  It includes Healthy Steps, which provides one-on-one personal nurse support to those with chronic health conditions, weight management, 24/7 Nurseline to help answer health questions, health assessments, and a smoking cessation program.  It also provides a variety of employee assistance and counseling programs on everything from balancing work and personal life to mental health and substance abuse issues to prenatal health.

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is among FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and is recognized as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 250,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's website, www.aramark.com, or www.twitter.com/aramarknews.

About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit, membership organization of large employers devoted exclusively to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to their most important health care and related benefits issues and to being the voice for large employers on national health care issues. The Business Group, whose 345 members include 64 of the Fortune 100, identifies, develops and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues. Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 55 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.