Work on your wellness ... at work
Does your workplace offer Pilates classes, vitamin shots … even a pinch of pinot noir? At the co-working space Workbar, Erika Tarantal finds all of that plus better lighting, ventilation and adaptable furniture – and a stamp of approval from the Well Building Institute.
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Updated: 7:52 PM EDT Aug 23, 2019
CHANNEL 5. >> IN HEEL. SHAYNA: IT IS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND TIME FOR PILATES IN BOSTON’S BACK BAY. THIS IS NO GYM, IT IS A CO-WORKING OFFICE. EXERCISE IS NOT THE ONLY THING GOING ON. THEY ARE OFFERING VITAMIN SHOTS, HEALTHY SNACKS, AND EVEN A LITTLE SOMETHING TO WIND DOWN. >> YOU NEED TO GET A LOT OUT OF YOUR WORK DAY. THAT MEANS TO US THAT YOU COME IN AND FIND A PRODUCTIVE PLACE TO WORK. SHAYNA: THE CEO, SARAH, CALLS THIS MONTHLY EVENT WELLNESS WEDNESDAY, A SMALL PART OF A LARGER EFFORT. >> WE OPENED IN JANUARY 2018. THIS LOCATION IS SPECIAL BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY CODE LOCATED WORKING THAN YOU. SHAYNA: WELL CERTIFICATION SETS A STANDARD FOR BUILDINGS THAT SETS A STANDARD FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE INSTITUTE IS BASED IN NEW YORK AND WE SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT, RACHEL, VIA SKYPE. >> WE DID SIX YEARS OF VIGOROUS RESEARCH BEFORE WE LAUNCHED IN 2014 AND WE WENT THROUGH MULTIPLE PHASES OF THE PEER-REVIEWED INCLUDING REVIEWS BY THE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL COMMUNITY. SHAYNA: A BUILDING MUST MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS. >> IT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE WITH 10 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT RANGE FROM TOPICS LIKE AIR, LIGHT, WATER, AND THERMAL COMFORT TO COMMUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH NOURISHMENT AND MOVEMENT. WE WANT OUR BUSINESS IS TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE AND THEREFORE, WE NEED THE EMPLOYEES IN THE BUILDINGS TO BE AS HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE AS THEY CAN BE. >> YOU PROBABLY DON’T NOTICE THAT YOU ARE BREATHING BETTER BUT YOU ARE. SHAYNA: A SPECIAL AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM MINIMIZES INSIDE POLLUTION. AND THERE IS SPECIAL LIGHTING. >> IT IS HUMAN CENTRIC. SHAYNA: BURIED LEVELS -- VARIED LEVELS OF WORKSPACES MEANS FEWER ACHES AND PAINS. FRESHWATER MINUS PLASTIC BOTTLES IS AVAILABLE AT THE TOUCH OF THE FINGER, STILL AND SPARKLING. >> DELICIOUS. >> WE HAVE YOGA AND PUZZLES. AND WHAT DRIVES ALL OF THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IN OUR SPACES. ANTHONY: SHIFTING FROM THIS ILLNESS MODEL TO THE WELLNESS MODEL OF CARE. SHAYNA: THIS DOCTOR IS A MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE BENSON HENRY INSTITUTE FOR MIND BODY MEDICINE AT THE MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITAL. >> THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE HAVE IS OUR HEALTH. AND THAT MEANS PROMOTING AREAS THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT. IMPROVES LIFESTYLE RELATED CONDITIONS. SHAYNA: HERE, THEY FOCUS ON SLEEP, MOVEMENT, DIET, STRESS REDUCTION, AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. >> WE KNOW SIMPLE PRACTICES LIKE APPRECIATION ARE TREMENDOUS BUFFERS AGAINST CONDITIONS LIKE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. SHAYNA: POSITIVE THINKING PLAYS A BIG PART IN ROBERT’S LIFE. HE IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF ACCELERATION PARTNERS. A TOUGH PLACE TO WORK ACCORDING TO THE GOLD -- ACCORDING TO THE BOSTON GLOBE AND OTHERS. >> WE ARE FOCUSED ON AFFILIATE MARKETING. SHAYNA: ALSO AN AUTHOR, HIS LATEST BOOK WAS BORN OUT OF HIS DAILY ROUTINE WHICH INCLUDES GATHERING INSPIRATIONAL STORIES. IN NOVEMBER 2015, HE STARTED FORWARDING THEM TO HIS TEAM. THE FRIDAY FORWARD NEWSLETTER NOW REACHES UP TO 100,000 PEOPLE PER WEEK. >> I STARTED GETTING NOTICES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. SHAYNA: HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. HIS 150 EMPLOYEES AROUND THE WORLD WHO ALL WORK FROM HOME HAVE A TIME OF AUTONOMY. >> A LOT OF TRAINING HAS TO DO WITH GETTING BETTER AT TIME MANAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION. WE GET THE BENEFIT ON THEIR WORK FROM THAT AND THEY GET THE PERSONAL BENEFITS. SHAYNA: ANGELA HUGHES IS IN CHARGE OF TRAINING. >> WE WORK TRADITIONAL BUSINESS HOURS BUT IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT DURING THE DAY TO TAKE CARE OF A SICK KID, YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THAT. SHAYNA: DON’T THINK ABOUT CALLING THIS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE. >> WE USE "WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION." HOW DOES IT ALL FIT TOGETHER? IT IS NEVER IN BALANCE IN A DAY. MAYBE A WEEK OR A MONTH. SHAYNA: ENCOURAGING WELL-MANAGED TIME OFF IS HOW THEY ALSO ENCOURAGE WELLNESS. ACCELERATION PARTNERS REIMBURSES EMPLOYEES UP TO $750 OF VACATION COSTS. >> GETTING OUT OF HERE IS A HELPFUL. THE CAVEAT IS THEY HAVE TO STAY OFF-LINE AND NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR TEAM. IT FORCES THEM TO BE INTENTIONAL >> IT WAS AMAZING. I STAYED OFF-LINE AND WE SPENT TIME AS A FAMILY. SHAYNA: NOW, THE ANSWER TO WHAT YOU ARE ALL WONDERING -- IT IS YES, THEY ARE. >> WE ARE HIRING. SHAYNA: THE CEO WAS NAMED A TOP CEO FOR THE SECOND TIME. BACK TO WELL CERTIFICATION, THEY DO SPOTCHECKS MEASURING THINGS LIKE AIR QUALITY, SOUND, AND LIGHT PERFORMANCE. THERE ARE CLA
Work on your wellness ... at work
Does your workplace offer Pilates classes, vitamin shots … even a pinch of pinot noir? At the co-working space Workbar, Erika Tarantal finds all of that plus better lighting, ventilation and adaptable furniture – and a stamp of approval from the Well Building Institute.
![Chronicle logo]()
Updated: 7:52 PM EDT Aug 23, 2019
WorkBar in Boston’s Back Bay is the first co-working office in the world to achieve WELL certification. The office opened in January of 2018 after investing elements that enhance the health and well-being of the people working in the office. The office hosts a Wellness Wednesday event every month.The International WELL Building Institute launched the WELL standard in 2014 after six years of research. Buildings can earn the WELL certification by meeting requirements in ten categories. Those include air, light, water and thermal comfort, as well as community, mental health, nourishment and movement. Inspired by the LEED certification, the goal is to help companies help their employees be more productive and healthier.Acceleration Partners is a Needham-based performance marketing firm. It has been rated as a top place to work by the Boston Globe and others. CEO Robert Glazer is passionate about helping people perform at their best. They focus training on skills that elevate employees overall. A major perk of working at Acceleration Partners is they reimburse vacation costs up to $750 a year as long as the employee stays offline during their time off.
NEEDHAM, Mass. — WorkBar in Boston’s Back Bay is the first co-working office in the world to achieve WELL certification. The office opened in January of 2018 after investing elements that enhance the health and well-being of the people working in the office. The office hosts a Wellness Wednesday event every month.
The International WELL Building Institute launched the WELL standard in 2014 after six years of research. Buildings can earn the WELL certification by meeting requirements in ten categories. Those include air, light, water and thermal comfort, as well as community, mental health, nourishment and movement. Inspired by the LEED certification, the goal is to help companies help their employees be more productive and healthier.
Acceleration Partners is a Needham-based performance marketing firm. It has been rated as a top place to work by the Boston Globe and others. CEO Robert Glazer is passionate about helping people perform at their best. They focus training on skills that elevate employees overall. A major perk of working at Acceleration Partners is they reimburse vacation costs up to $750 a year as long as the employee stays offline during their time off.
