Employees the fabric of Cooley’s success

At the Cooley Group, a Pawtucket coated-fabric manufacturer, employee health has always been important – particularly where safety is concerned, said Deb Bedrosian, director of human resources. “Our employees are truly the most important thing,” she said. “If it weren’t for them, Cooley wouldn’t be here, almost ready to celebrate 90 years in business.”

But apart from the traditional safety concerns of any manufacturing business, Cooley has invested significantly in promoting wellness initiatives. Bedrosian said that the drive began in earnest about seven years ago, when rising health care costs caught the eyes of management. “We wanted to see how to get a handle on it,” she said, “to start providing our employees with the means and education to perhaps make better health choices.”

But cost was not – and has not been – the only driver. The efforts are certainly paying nonmonetary dividends, such as walking challenges that in their first year had 20 percent participation and are now garnering more than 70 percent. “The real return we’re looking for is [increased] employee wellness,” said Bedrosian. n

Number of Employees: 200

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CEO (or equivalent): Daniel Dwight, president and CEO

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