Research shows that individuals working in corrections face higher levels of stress than those in other lines of work. With that increased stress, comes a higher need for healthy and productive stress management activities.
Thanks to retention funds allocated by the Nebraska Legislature, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) is helping team members become the best versions of themselves. NDCS opened its first employee wellness center on Oct. 16, providing additional health benefits free of cost. The center – open to all NDCS team members – is located in a former administrative archive building near the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP).
“The main goal of the center is to give people a place where they can work out, build some camaraderie, get healthier and relieve some stress from their normal day,” said NSP Recreation Manager Rob Treptow, who helped spearhead plans for the wellness center. “I think we’re achieving that.”
The Nebraska Legislature allotted NDCS a $125,000 budget for the center. A good portion of these funds was put into remodeling efforts. The building – which was previously used only for archiving and storage – is now updated with water, electricity, heating and air conditioning. Remodelers also added a bathroom, changing room and shower to make the wellness center a one-stop-shop for those looking to get a quick workout in.
“I think it’s awesome that we can provide something of this caliber to the employees here at absolutely no cost to them,” NSP Public Information Officer Kim McGill said. “It plays into the wellness of the whole department.”
A second employee wellness center opened at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI) on Thursday, Feb. 1. The center is housed in a former gatehouse holding cell, which team members modified and painted before bringing in brand new fitness equipment.
April Bulling-June, Associate Warden at TSCI, said the center will help promote healthy lifestyles in addition to promoting department-wide camaraderie.
“It’s a different way for staff to interact with each other,” Bulling-June said. “I can work side by side with someone in a gallery or control station, but it’s a whole new world when you’re getting to know the person you work with every day on a different level.”
New fitness equipment in the centers include treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, free weights, benches, cable crossover machines, power racks, smith machines, medicine balls and more. Treptow said people have been asking for this for a long time.
“It’s put together well and the equipment is great,” said NSP Corporal Justin Podany, who generally uses the center five times a week. “It’s a welcoming atmosphere and it’s a lot of fun.”
Podany is a member of NSP’s Staff Wellness Committee, which is putting on a challenge to help team members kick start their New Year’s resolutions. The Lazy Man Ironman Triathlon involves three parts: cardio, weightlifting and food journaling. Participants have six weeks to complete the challenge, which began on Jan. 16.
More than 200 team members have signed the waiver required to use the facility at NSP, and Treptow has noted a steady flow of people in and out the door. While some workout by themselves, many come with workout partners or groups – continuing to bond outside of work hours. Whether alone or with a group, exercise always a good thing.
“I think it’s very beneficial,” Treptow said. “For me personally, I know the healthier I am, the less stressed I am. It’s just a positive way to promote health and wellness in a work setting.”