Newsroom:UST Global Press Releases

2,500 people participate in first annual UST Global walk/run for wellness

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - September 29, 2008 - UST Global^®(UST), a leading provider of IT services and solutions for Global 1000 enterprises, announced it recently hosted an inaugural Wellness Day one-mile walk/run to promote good health and physical fitness amongst its staff. More than 2,500 people participated in the heart health-themed event designed to raise positive awareness of exercise and give people an opportunity to experience a fun, physical activity.

With the adult working population spending more time in offices-and increasingly at desk jobs in front of computers-they have even less time to exercise, eat right or get a good night’s sleep. With health and heart risks on the rise globally, UST is fighting back by ramping up its wellness program.

UST Global Chief Wellness Officer Barry Newton commented, "Many adults today lead fast-paced lives where good eating habits, exercise and adequate sleep too often take a back seat when it comes to their health. Today we are focusing on exercise because often just a half-hour of exercise daily can make a positive difference. I am hoping this walk/run will motivate my colleagues to be more proactive in these areas. Based on the great turnout, I think we are off to a good start."

Getting ready: two-weeks of seminars and camps to prepare for the walk/run

The UST human resources team arranged on-site health camps and wellness seminars throughout the two weeks prior to the walk/run to generate heart awareness and get their peers excited and ready for the event including:

Personal counseling sessions with a consultant from a leading hospital who also lectures in psychology to uncover and address any personal issues staff may have that might preclude them from participating in the event.

An "eye camp" to check staff eyesight. As an IT services company, UST staff is in front of computers throughout the day. Because computer usage is a leading cause of eye strain, UST holds quarterly on-site eye camps to give its staff a quick assessment of their eye health. This event was arranged in conjunction with one of UST's internal volunteer groups. There are seven volunteer groups at UST, each named after a color, collectively called the COLORS program. Color Purple, the UST group promoting employee satisfaction company-wide, co-sponsored the eye camp.

One week prior to the Wellness Walk, readiness check-ups were offered. The check-ups are regularly held each quarter to give staff quick access to basic health measurements such as blood pressure, heart rate and anemia level. They provide a quick assessment of any health issues and raise awareness of good health. During the week prior to the walk/run the check-ups were held daily. Nearly 600 people participated throughout the week.

Two days prior to the walk/run, a holistic wellness seminar on stress management and work-life balance was given. Each quarter, a wellness seminar is held with topics ranging from diet to nutrition to heart health. This quarter’s seminar was scheduled to coincide with the walk/run.

The one-mile walk/run for heart health

Water-bottles were given to UST staff on the day of the one-mile walk/run (held on three different days in three different cities) to encourage them to drink water not only before and after the event, but also in their daily lives. With adults being made up of 60 to 70 percent water on average, water intake is a fundamental daily necessity for maintaining good health.

At the event, many people wore running clothes while others, caught up in the momentum, walked in their business suits. A live band played music during the run. After the event was over, a random drawing was held for all those who participated and 10 iPods were given away.

Another internal volunteer group (the Color Rose, which fosters relationships with the communities in which UST operates) raised funds for several charitable organizations.

About UST Global
UST Global^® is a leading provider of end-to-end IT services and solutions for the Global 1000 market. UST Global offers a client-centric Global Engagement Model that provides the optimal mix of senior local resources with the cost, scale and quality advantages of offshore operations for each client. The company is known for its relentless focus on clients, flexibility, and commitment beyond contract. Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, UST Global has more than 6,000 employees worldwide. It is ISO 27001 certified and is being recertified for CMMI® Level 5 and P-CMM® Level 5. For more information visit: www.ust-global.com