Kathy Knudsen

As a Titan of industry what are some key strengths and unique selling points of your company and what do you believe sets your organization apart from your competition?

Healthbreak is known for our inspired approach to service and wellness program design for the small and middle employer market. What sets us apart from other businesses is that we specialize in a targeted approach with measurable outcomes. Healthbreak’s configured solutions simplify the path to healthy lifestyle changes. We motivate employees to overcome their barriers to wellness and embrace healthy habits that last.

We believe that wellbeing is for everyone and that is why we combine our expertise with our elite partnership with Virgin Pulse, the global leader in digital engagement systems. As a certified distributor of these engagement solutions, employers have access to a mobile first solution set designed to strengthen cultures, motivate employees and boost the bottom line. With over 100 award-winning programs to date, we are causing breakthroughs in wellness every day.

What excites you most about the future direction of your company or industry?

The events of the past several years have helped to further the digital revolution in healthcare as well as magnify the value that leading a healthy lifestyle plays as preventative medicine. As healthcare costs continue to increase annually, the health and wellbeing industry has experienced explosive growth with no signs of slowing down.

Most employers provide benefits to their employees and are faced with reducing the impact of healthcare costs while competing for the best talent to drive their business. In today’s employment landscape, employers who want to compete realize more than ever that they need healthy, happy, and mentally fit employees that are productive. Comprehensive employee wellness programs repeatedly demonstrate the ability to effectively impact both of these areas for employers.

For all of these reasons and more, Healthbreak is excited to bring our consultative approach to assist more employers to make employee health and wellbeing a core business strategy. We provide the right mix of solutions for the specific needs of each employer, with the goal of supporting their employees to reach and maintain optimal wellbeing. Healthy employees are happier, more engaged and more productive and the benefits to the employer are numerous. We remain passionate about evolving and expanding our services to ensure we drive outcomes for the employers and every individual we serve.

What are some of the most important initiatives or projects that your company is currently working on, and how will they impact your industry and customers?

We thrive on our service model of empowering organizations to provide lasting, healthy cultures for their employees. We know that successful businesses are dependent on having a healthy workforce and that is where we come in. Our number one initiative this year is focused on providing out of the box solutions that employers can implement now to support their employees’ mental health and wellbeing. We have taken our health coaching solutions and expanded them to offer targeted programs that address today’s most pressing issues in employee’s lives. These programs are designed to be high-touch and are delivered by certified health coaches accessing our portal, a secure and HIPAA compliant system. The level of support these programs offer is making a difference for employees and opening doors for employers and their employees to reach their potential.

Can you describe your company’s approach to corporate social responsibility, and how you are making a positive impact in your community or beyond?

Our Live it! Give it! Program, guided by an amazing committee of our dedicated and inspiring employees, is the cultural initiative that integrates our employee wellness program with our community outreach.

This program is designed to spark wellbeing at Healthbreak, provide whole person wellbeing support, give back to the communities we live in and have fun. As wellness professionals this translates to our passion for helping others while keeping our focus on our own wellbeing. Over the years our community initiatives have included participation in events that focus on some of the more important causes such as cancer research, food security, and maintenance of our natural open spaces. These initiatives are chosen and supported by our team. The momentum we have behind these causes is at the foundation of who we are. We are a team of caring, passionate health professionals driven to make a difference.

Can you tell us about any recent changes or innovations in your company’s technology or infrastructure, and how they are improving efficiency and effectiveness?

Healthbreak is a certified distributor of Virgin Pulse’s global leading wellbeing engagement platform. We bring this platform and the vast solution set of digital options to U. S. employers in the small and middle market. This year Virgin Pulse introduced upgrades for its industry-leading platform that included a new digital front door design rooted in behavior change science, and improved navigation and transparency.

This release enhances the member experience, making it easy for users to understand and take action to achieve their personal health and wellbeing goals. This simplified front door better supports members by presenting the most relevant resources and provides faster access when they need it most. It has improved discoverability, to understand where to begin or what to do next, even greater personalization reflecting their unique interests, and a more user-centric design to help them achieve better health outcomes.

How do you ensure that your products or services are meeting the needs and expectations of your customers?

Simply put, we ask. We provide numerous feedback mechanisms during the year to ensure our products and services are meeting the needs and expectations of our customers. Our customers include the representatives at each organization that we work with to deliver their employee wellness program as well as the members we serve at each organization that may include employees, spouses/partners, and other constituency groups.

For client feedback, we offer Satisfaction Surveys at two different times during the year. This assesses satisfaction, collects a Net Promoter Score, and allows for feedback. We also seek live input during our quarterly business reviews with each client.

We obtain input from our members also by way of surveys. These are designed to gauge awareness of offering, gain input on programs and services, and benchmark overall satisfaction. These feedback mechanisms are in place all service areas including wellness platform, coaching, onsite fitness facilities, and programs. We believe that feedback is a gift and use this regular feedback to improve the quality and member experience in all offerings.

Can you tell us about any recent awards or recognition that your company has received, and how they validate the success of your business?

As a provider of workplace wellness services, we know the importance of “walking the walk” when it comes to employee wellness, ensuring we provide our own team members with a supportive wellbeing program in order for them to be able to take care of our clients.

Healthbreak was recognized by Health Links as a 2023 Certified Health Workplace Leader for its exemplary workplace health and safety culture. The designation is based on the scores of an evidence-based questionnaire that evaluated Healthbreak’s health and safety against benchmarks. This certification is awarded to organizations that have continually demonstrated the highest level of committed and dedicated resources to team members and community health and safety.

We are most validated, however, through the numerous industry awards that our clients earn each year for their employee wellness programs. From an inaugural inductee into the Healthiest Employers Hall of Fame, a Gold Wellness Workplace award from the Wellness Council of America, and numerous other industry awards, a significant percent of the clients we serve have received recognition for their wellness programs. Healthbreak is proud to be a contributor to these achievements and celebrates in their success.