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Ensuring employees' health and safety not only keeps them more engaged, but also boosts productivity and improves the bottom line.
That was one of the central themes of the Mainebiz Health Care Forum in Freeport on Wednesday. More than 100 people attended the discussion about workplace well-being moderated by Kim Anania, president and CEO of KMA Human Resources Consulting.
Anania said mental health shapes how individuals handle stress, relate to others and make choices. She also cited statistics showing Maine's “youth mental health crisis” and the prevalence of stress among employees.
Panelists included Michael Bourque, president and CEO of MEMIC; Colleen Kavanagh, president and CEO of SoulBeing and a Mainebiz 40 Under 40 honoree in 2024: Jen Hughes, director of people and culture at Systems Engineering, an employee-owned firm; Jayne Van Bramer, president and CEO of Sweetser; and Kathryn Caiazzo, regional vice president of sales for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine who spent 10 years as a registered nurse.
From reducing injuries to ensuring impactful and inclusive mental wellness strategies, panelists offered several practical tips for employers. They include the following:
Laying out the business case for workplace health and safety, Bourque said, “We believe that engaged employees are less likely to be hurt, and that helps you financially.”
He also noted that if employers fail on that front and employees they’ve hired and trained end up leaving as a result, “that’s a real cost to your business.”
Financial well-being is also part of the equation, since employees are not going to be healthy if they're worried about paying the rent, Van Bramer underscored.
Upcoming Mainebiz events are listed here.
Here's a recap from another recent Mainebiz conference, the Women's Leadership Forum held in May 2025.
'Walk boldly into the room' and other insights from the Mainebiz Women's Leadership Forum
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Learn MoreWork for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Learn MoreWhether you’re a developer, financer, architect, or industry enthusiast, Groundbreaking Maine is crafted to be your go-to source for valuable insights in Maine’s real estate and construction community.
Coming June 2025
Learn moreThe Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Whether you’re a developer, financer, architect, or industry enthusiast, Groundbreaking Maine is crafted to be your go-to source for valuable insights in Maine’s real estate and construction community.
Coming June 2025
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