Building Worksite Wellness into a Business Culture

Mitch Martens is the Clinical Wellness Director at Huntington Health, an affiliate of the Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles. With over 40 years of experience in behavioral health and wellness strategy, Martens specializes in transforming theory into practical, data-driven programs that strengthen employee well-being and organizational performance.

Through this interview, Mitch Martens highlights the value of building a wellness culture that celebrates people, not problems. He explains how data insights, creativity and empathy shape his approach at Huntington Health by driving inclusive, engaging and balanced initiatives that empower healthcare teams to perform at their best.

Fighting Fires, Building Wellness

No two days are the same in hospitals; we’re always on high alert. It’s a part of our job to deal with whatever emergencies come our way. In many cases, we’re already starting a few steps behind.

For a long time, my days were entirely reactionary. I was great at putting out fires and handling whatever crisis landed on my desk. But over time, I wasn’t leaving space to be proactive, innovative or strategic.

These days, my ‘day in the life’ is all about balance.  It’s managing the latest issue. Whether it’s an employee concern or an unexpected challenge, it carves out time to think intentionally about wellness strategies. So, it’s about responding, not just reacting and making a meaningful impact every day.

Healthcare Powered by Responsibility

Healthcare never follows a script, and I’ve learned to thrive in the unexpected.

During the pandemic, every day brought new protocols, community crises and personal struggles for our staff. We had to pivot constantly, and it taught me just how resilient and adaptable healthcare teams can be when it matters most.

Being good at your job often comes with more responsibility. When the vice president left, I inherited a new department on top of my existing work. It was a balancing act, but it pushed me to think strategically about processes, priorities and how to support both teams and individuals. Leadership isn’t just about solving problems. It’s about anticipating them and empowering others to rise alongside you.

I’ve learned that real impact comes from knowing what you can control by protecting your energy and celebrating small wins. Our programs now reach everyone, not just at-risk groups, and employee engagement has surged. Leadership is about resilience, foresight and showing up strong every single day.

Shifting the Focus from Fixing to Celebrating

Our peer recognition programs, like ‘You Matter,’ let employees highlight each other’s efforts, spreading positivity throughout the organization.

When I joined Huntington Health three years ago, the wellness program was pretty typical. It focused on identifying employees at risk through biometrics and then “fixing” the problems. It was all about what was wrong, not what was right.

I knew we could do better. I wanted a program that included everyone, celebrated the good habits people already had and encouraged them to grow at their own pace. Most of us are already doing things to support our wellbeing, even if we’re not ready to tackle big challenges like quitting smoking or improving sleep.

So, we shifted the approach. Instead of telling people what to do, we put the power back in their hands. Our incentive-based program rewards the positive steps employees are already taking. If someone wants to do more, that’s great. But the focus is on celebrating the healthy habits they are already practicing.

The difference has been incredible. When you celebrate progress instead of pointing out problems, people stay engaged, motivated and proud of their journey.

This shift from reacting to problems to acknowledging achievements is one of the things I’m most proud of. It’s a culture that empowers people to take charge of their own wellness.

Wellness that Inspires, Not Demands

Wellness doesn’t have to be boring. One of the things I’ve learned is that if you make it fun, people will engage without even realizing it.

A few years ago, we noticed our employees were too sedentary, so instead of rolling out another lecture about health risks, we created a ‘scavenger hunt’ across our campus. Tiny purple shoes with QR codes were hidden everywhere. Employees ran around, scanned the shoes and entered them into a fun drawing.

The prize didn’t matter; what mattered was getting people up, moving and laughing together. The social aspect surprised me the most. People connected with colleagues they hadn’t met before, and the energy on campus shifted. It showed me that true wellness comes from creating experiences people enjoy rather than focusing solely on metrics or education.

Small Idea, Big Impact

One of the most powerful tools we have is our wellness app. It gives us a window into what our employees are genuinely curious about, the topics they’re exploring in their own time.

Last year, something interesting stood out in the data. A large number of people were reading about alcohol use and moderation. That insight sparked an idea. Instead of launching another generic health challenge, we created a Dry January Challenge. Not to cut alcohol completely, but to simply encourage mindfulness and moderation.

The result was amazing. It became our most successful Healthy Habit Challenge of the year. Participation soared because it wasn’t just a program we pushed; it was something that reflected what people actually cared about.

We also began aligning our programs with national and global events like National Scrubs Day and World Gratitude Day. These small initiatives bring people together without needing a big budget.

It’s about celebrating progress, not perfection. We recognize small wins, whether someone improved their sleep, took extra steps or simply participated in a challenge. By making wellness fun, relevant and rewarding, we’ve built a culture that motivates, connects and empowers everyone. People stay engaged because they feel seen, supported and excited to take the next step in their health journey.