How Gilsbar Used Data and Recognition to Strengthen Engagement and Build a Culture of Wellness

About

HQ

Covington, Louisiana

Industry

Insurance

company size

51-200 employees

Woliba Solutions

Focus Areas

Gilsbar wanted to streamline wellness planning, boost recognition, and create a more connected workplace. With Woliba, they gained access to actionable health data, launched engaging peer and manager recognition tools, and used surveys to gather employee feedback—laying the foundation for a more accountable and engaged culture.

The Challenge

Before Woliba, Gilsbar managed wellness manually—tracking points in spreadsheets, coordinating events like yoga and meditation, and gathering feedback through internal surveys. Participation was steady, but the approach was time-consuming and disconnected.

Gilsbar wanted more than automation. They were looking for a centralized platform that could:

  • Use employee health data to guide proactive programming

  • Create a culture of appreciation through peer and manager recognition

  • Provide timely feedback through surveys and performance-linked engagement

  • Save time on planning and tracking while building something that employees would actually use

To make the most of their new platform, the team set clear SMART goals:

  1. Use health data to plan wellness challenges and events

  2. Increase recognition and tie it into performance reviews

  3. Hold managers accountable for regular recognition and feedback

Launch 30/60/90-day surveys to improve new hire retention and satisfaction

The Solution

Woliba provided Gilsbar with a single, integrated platform that helped them work smarter—not harder—while engaging employees in meaningful, ongoing ways.

 Data-Informed Planning
With access to aggregated health insights, the Gilsbar team designed wellness challenges around real needs—boosting both relevance and results.

 Built-In Recognition Tools
Employees could recognize peers with shout-outs, badges, and social feed posts—fostering appreciation across departments and leadership levels.

Custom Survey Cadences
Woliba’s survey tools enabled Gilsbar to schedule and track 30/60/90-day surveys and general pulse checks—without relying on manual data collection.

Easy Challenge & Event Launches
Admins created and managed custom wellness events in-platform, complete with automated reminders, attendance tracking, and engagement reporting.

The Impact

In their first year with Woliba, Gilsbar saw a dramatic shift in participation, culture, and employee sentiment:

  • Challenge participation rose from 55% to 90%, with 73% retention even through seasonal dips

  • 17,055 total activities completed, up from 3,235—a 406% increase in per-user engagement

  • HRA completion climbed from 84% to 100%

  • Social feed posts jumped from 46 to 438, with 300 more in Q1 alone

  • Employees are actively referring coworkers, building grassroots momentum

The platform not only made participation easier—it made wellness a regular part of the workday.

What’s Next

With strong adoption and engagement already in place, Gilsbar is focused on:

  • Planning quarterly wellness initiatives using health data

  • Encouraging peer and manager recognition across all departments

  • Including recognition in 75%+ of performance reviews

  • Ensuring all new hires complete 30/60/90-day surveys

  • Maintaining high engagement across events, challenges, and the social feed

Woliba now plays a central role in how Gilsbar connects, recognizes, and supports its people.

Key Takeaways

Gilsbar turned a time-intensive wellness program into a high-impact cultural driver—without adding to their workload.

With Woliba, they brought structure, insight, and energy to every aspect of employee wellness and engagement. The result: higher participation, stronger feedback loops, and a more connected, appreciated workforce.

“People know the system, they utilize everything—it’s becoming a part of their routine and culture at Gilsbar.”
— Keslie Smith, Gilsbar

“I give Woliba a solid 10. They put a lot of informative topics on health and wellness. I love the variety of recipes related to different health issues, and I enjoy the step challenges.”
— Sumana Disimone, Gilsbar

“We didn’t get good engagement with our previous vendor, but now we walk through the office and people have Woliba on one screen and work on the other.”
— Keslie Smith, Gilsbar

Your people are your greatest asset.

Empower them—and your business—with Woliba.

Products

Employee Recognition

Wellness Challenges

Wellness Resources

Employee Engagement Surveys

Employee Coaching & Events

Employee Reward Management

Health Data Management

Solution

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Recognition

Recognition that bolsters company culture, empowers employees, and boosts productivity.