Sukup Manufacturing Co., the Iowa-based maker of grain bins, is giving 160 of its longtime employees a wellness benefit many of us might like: A free trip to Hawaii in January.
That's just the cherry on the health care sundae the Sheffield, Iowa, manufacturer announced Monday.
As many companies ask employees to pick up more of their health care costs, Sukup is bolstering its health benefits.
The company is opening an onsite health clinic for all employees at its north central Iowa headquarters. It will be free or low-cost.
It's also covering health care insurance premiums for single employees. Families will pay a small fee, around $200 each month.
Emily Schmitt, Sukup's general counsel, said employees love that Sheffield is a “small, tight-knit community."
“However, we acknowledge that can mean employees need to drive far distances for even basic medical care," she said. "The new clinic will make health services much more accessible and, we hope, lead to a happier and healthier workforce.”
Intense competition to recruit and retain workers has employers doing "everything they can" to show workers they're valued, said Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.
Vermeer Manufacturing, the maker of farm and construction equipment in Pella, is among the Iowa companies providing onsite health care.
At Sukup, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner from Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa will staff the onsite clinic, which boasts five exam rooms, two offices and a lab.
Health services include biometric screening, health and weight-loss coaching, smoking cessation, tele-counseling, and other routine clinical tests for things like strep throat, the company said.
“Research shows that onsite clinics can add significant value to the workplace,” said Samantha Petersburg, Sukup's human resources representative.
The company hopes the clinic can provide "earlier detection and treatment of illness, fewer emergency room visits" and reinforce a culture of wellness, Petersburg said.
The Hawaii trip is offered as a sales and longevity incentive, and is a perk Sukup has provided in the past to employees and their spouses, the company said.
Employees may make appointments at the clinic beginning in January.
Sukup Manufacturing Co., which has about 600 employees, says it's the world’s largest family-owned and operated grain storage, drying and handling equipment manufacturer.
Three generations of family are active in the business.