Sen. Cornyn to Highlight Benefits of Prevention & Workplace Wellness at San Antonio's Frito-Lay Facility

AUSTIN—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, will be in San Antonio Thursday, January 14, to visit the Frito-Lay Food Manufacturing Facility and see how local company Fit For Work LLC is helping Frito-Lay employees prevent work-related injuries and lower health care costs. Studies show an emphasis on workplace wellness leads to a healthier and more productive workforce, along with savings on health costs. Sen. Cornyn will be briefed and have the opportunity to see a training demonstration in which Fit For Work staff will train Frito-Lay employees how to carry out their responsibilities at work in a way that promotes wellness and prevents injury.

Sen. Cornyn believes a focus on prevention and wellness must be central to broader health care reform efforts in Washington. He has introduced two bills that promote the concept of workplace wellness and disease prevention: the WHIP Act and the Healthy Workforce Act. The Workforce Health Improvement Program Act, or the WHIP Act, is a bipartisan measure that would level the playing field for small businesses that cannot afford to provide an on-site fitness facility for their employees. Specifically, it would allow employees to exclude from their federal taxes up to $900 of any off-site wellness benefit they receive from their employer.

In the same vein, the Healthy Workforce Act would provide a tax credit to companies that offer effective and comprehensive wellness programs for their employees.

• WHAT: Sen. Cornyn To Highlight Benefits Of Prevention & Workplace Wellness At San Antonio’s Frito-Lay Facility  
• WHEN: Thursday, January 14: 2:50 p.m. – briefing and demonstration & 3:30 p.m. – media availability
• WHERE: Frito-Lay Food Manufacturing Facility, 4855 Greatland Dr., San Antonio, TX  78218

Background on Fit For Work:

Fit For Work is a San Antonio-based company that is hired by labor-intensive businesses to provide their employees with injury prevention techniques. Fit For Work’s techniques include training, ergonomics, and identifying musculoskeletal disorders through on-site clinical diagnostics. Since Fit For Work implemented its program at the San Antonio Frito-Lay facility in 1998, Frito-Lay has seen an 86% reduction in injury frequency and has not experienced an ergo-related injury in the last 7 years. Frito-Lay estimates it has saved millions of dollars as a result of these preventive measures.