For the people, by the people: The health programs offered at Ryan LLC in Providence, a leading global tax-services firm, aren’t just for workers, they’re designed by workers as well.

Ryan is in its second year of implementation of an aggressive health care program, dubbed “myHealth,” which offers educational programs, team and individual challenges, wellness activities, and online tools and resources.

“Our employees helped create it,” says Delta A. Emerson, executive vice president and chief of staff. “They have a voice in it, all have the chance to volunteer to be on the committee to create the programs.”

The programs have something for everyone, she said, from hard-core workout enthusiasts to the more laid back, seeking something lighter. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, Emerson says. The most well-received component of myHealth are the team challenges, she said.

“The workers get together for things like walking challenges, and it builds camaraderie and that competitive edge,” Emerson said.

Company-wide challenges include the 10,000 Steps Challenge in spring, the Chug-A-Jug Challenge in summer and a Maintain for Life Challenge in the fall. Other initiatives include free yearly biometric screenings, a health fair, a $50 monthly reimbursement for gym costs and access to personal coaching and a wellness portal, which has nearly 14,000 log-ins to date.

“What Ryan has tried to do is create programs anyone in the company can find value in,” Emerson said. “They’re not just designed for someone to run a marathon, they’re for everyone.” •