Uber's Employee Wellness Program Re-imagined
Anthony Diaz
Founder, CEO, Impact Investor. Unlocking Abundance. | Decentralized AI Layer 1 (Go! SmartChain AI) supported by Real World Assets, distributing via Health Hero, Inc (Modern Enterprise Well-being)
You've probably used Uber, if not, you've most likely heard of it. Uber Technologies, Inc., AKA Uber, is a San Francisco-based global transportation company. They brilliantly filled a niche back in 2009 for a technological, peer to peer collective of independent “taxi” drivers.
The company launched its high tech smart phone system connecting individuals needing rides to the nearest registered Uber driver in 2010. Their growth has grown massively since.
Signing up to drive is easy, and using their services is even easier. A fare uses the app to call up a driver and then track the driver’s progress on a smartphone screen. Payment is made online with a registered credit card, and rate your driver options pop up after the ride concludes.
Uber has weathered many storms ranging from taxi driver unions to foreign government bans, but still marches onward and outward. Recently, they've expanding into food delivery, self-driving cars, and even helicopters. They do business in over 66 countries and utilize millions of independently contracted drivers in over 550 cities. The company operates online essentially but employs a team of administrators, engineers and technicians at their home offices.
Uber, health and community: Keeping a remote company together
Over the last few years, Uber has shown it cares about health in the community by reaching out once or twice a year with various health initiatives. These can include delivering free flu shots, including a registered nurse to administer them, for groups of up to ten people. With a simple click on “health” in the Uber app, anyone can receive a flu shot or a wellness care pack, which includes a water bottle, hand sanitizer, a lollipop and other goodies- all for ten bucks!
While Uber apparently offers benefits to its in-house employees like health insurance, most of the workers are independent contractors with no in-house benefits. But they do get flexible schedules as drivers work when they want to and take time off when they want to.
An automated company like Uber, however, could clearly equip all of its employees and remote workers (drivers) with a wellness program that can only benefit this growing employer.
Driving, especially in traffic, can be stressful. Drivers must be vigilant, alert and safe. Driving is also sedentary, so it’s important to take circulation breaks, and do exercise outside when not driving.
The Employee Wellness Program Re-imagined
Since their drivers are already equipped with smart phones, an automated wellness program is easily implemented. Let’s imagine that drivers and in-house technicians, administrators and engineers were all dialed into a wellness software program on their smart phones that did all of the following:
- Tracks health and fitness activities of each participant, including ongoing achievements and goals reached with their associated points/earnings.
- Shows points and levels achieved for goals reached and participation.
- Alerts participants to upcoming point-worthy activities and competitions like biggest loser competitions or local races to run or bike.
- Keeps track of multiple social network health activities so everyone can see how they measure up in points.
What's Included
So, let’s say you’re a participating driver. You can look at your dashboard each day to see activities for achieving rewards, for example filling out a health assessment, completing a dental exam or walking 1000 steps. These are all activities that once completed, gets you points.
You can also check the dashboard for daily wellbeing cards for activities and reminders geared especially for you. For instance, if you want to get in better shape, you might get a reminder to do 25 jumping jacks or take the stairs wherever you go. Or you might be reminded to wash your linens to reduce allergy triggers, sync your device to update your stats or eat a healthy breakfast.
Other reminders may be ongoing or scheduled reminders such as an annual physical with a complete checklist of what to bring, ask about and check for, all in one convenient place. There’s even a place to rate the physician so others can follow and share recommendations.
Since the components of the wellness program are points-reward based, every participant can compete, earn rewards and join in the camaraderie of getting healthy and fit. It boosts individual and company spirit. And everyone can participate whether in house or on the road, drivers or top management, even (especially) co-founders Travis Kalanick, Oscar Salazar and Garrett Camp.
A program’s success is much more likely when management joins in the fun and leads the wellness drive.
Health Hero provides smart, multi-channel and integrated health engagement experiences that are powerful and simple to deploy to employees in seconds. Contact us today to learn how we can create a customized plan for you!
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2 年Anthony, thanks for sharing!