Email from carmen feldstein chairperson dysart employee w - GED Prep

Question

Email

From: Carmen Feldstein, Chairperson, Dysart Employee Wellness Committee

Sent: January 20

To: Tyrone Bennett, President, Dysart Telemarketing, Inc.

CC: Richard Winnoman, Manager of Operations; Employee Wellness Committee distribution list

Subject: Recommendation for a worksite walking trail

1.Six months ago, the Employee Wellness Committee was given the challenge of encouraging Dysart employees to increase their daily exercise. After surveying employees and meeting multiple times to discuss the results, the committee proposes that Dysart build a walking trail in the area north of the parking lot. The committee reviewed all options and determined that employees would benefit more from a walking trail, which could be constructed with a modest investment by Dysart, than from any other proposed solution to promote exercise.

2.Research shows that leading a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous to our health. One study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that in 2011 almost 80% of adult Americans did not achieve the amount of exercise that experts recommend to maintain health. Many workers at Dysart sit at their desks for eight or nine hours a day and engage in very little physical exercise. In addition, the American Heart Association suggests that it does not take much exercise to produce positive results. Walking only 30 minutes a day, for instance, can provide many health benefits. Walking is also frequently recommended as one of the best overall exercises for maintaining healthy weight, balance, and circulation. If a trail were readily available, employees could power walk for 15 to 30 minutes during their workday.

3.The cost of a walking trail is much less expensive than installing an exercise center and buying exercise equipment, and the company grounds provide ample room for a one-mile trail. Please refer to the previously submitted cost estimate for the proposed walking trail. Included with it, you will find the committee's comparative analysis for the estimated costs of other possible projects. If management agrees to this request, the committee would work with Mr. Winnoman to complete this project. After installation of the trail, the members of the committee would landscape the area and promote the trail to the other employees. In return, management would need to provide funding for the materials and labor, lights, and two water fountains along the trail. For a small initial investment, Dysart could reap the benefits of healthier employees and a more productive workplace.

4. We need a walking trail for the benefit of the entire Dysart team.

Email

From: Tyrone Bennett, President, Dysart Telemarketing, Inc.

Sent: March 20

To: Carmen Feldstein, Chairperson, Dysart Employee Wellness Committee

CC: Richard Winnoman, Manager of Operations; Employee Wellness Committee distribution list Subject: Proposed employee walking trail

5.While I applaud the efforts of the Employee Wellness Committee to encourage Dysart employees to exercise, I do not agree that creating a walking trail on the grounds would accomplish this goal. Frankly, I am not convinced that a trail would entice sedentary employees to venture outdoors for walking exercise. If employees have not already taken the initiative to exercise after work and on the weekend, I do not believe that a company- financed walking trail would be a sufficient catalyst to change their habits here at work.

6.However, in the spirit of cooperation between management and employees, I consulted with Mr. Winnoman and asked him to provide an official Operations cost estimate for building a walking trail. Mr. Winnoman's estimate of the initial and ongoing annual expenses is provided in the chart below. As you can see, the costs of a trail would exceed the amount the committee projected. Not only would there be initial costs to install the trail, but the company would also incur continuous monthly costs for lighting and water.

7. Unfortunately, the estimated total cost of the trail would be more than the current budget allots for employee incentives. With regret, I have decided that a walking trail is not an affordable option for improving employee wellness. With no guarantee that a trail would have a positive impact on employee productivity and health, it simply is not a workable project for our company. However, I appreciate the efforts of the committee and encourage you to continue to propose ways to promote the health and well-being of our staff.

Based on the passage, what was the primary motivation behind the Employee Wellness Committee's recommendation for a walking trail?