Think Differently: 5 Strategies for Creating a Happier, Healthier, More Productive Workforce

The impact employees have on an organization’s bottom line is well understood by employers.

But, what is less discussed is how employers (and the community) can impact overall employee health and performance.

It’s this issue that drives our work at Health Action Council (HAC) and inspired a recent white paper entitled Community Health Data: Improving Employer Investment in Overall Employee Health. 

Released in cooperation with UnitedHealthcare and Optum CommunityHealth analytics, the research investigated employee populations within HAC’s communities nationwide and was recently revealed at our 2018 Annual Conference entitled IN*VALUE*ABLE held February 22-23 in Cleveland.

The findings are startling and support the fact that U.S. companies desperately need to think differently about their workforce and community investments if they’re going to contain healthcare costs and thrive.

In fact, this is something our friends across the pond have learned the hard way.

In a recent article entitled What the U.S. can learn from the U.K.’s National Health Service, they state, “…underfunding social services risks inflicting pain and suffering on sick and needy citizens and can be self-defeating when it causes health care costs to rise.”

The article continues, “The U.S. currently invests little in social services compared to what it spends on health care. It should re-evaluate this imbalance and its effects.”

So, what can companies do to better support employees, reduce healthcare costs, strengthen their bottom line, and positively impact the health of their future workforce?

Here’s our advice!

1. Download the white paper by clicking here and work the findings into conversations to advance your company’s health, benefits and community strategies and growth planning.
2. Understand that your corporate culture and its surrounding community can impact your workforce’s ability to perform.

3. Review community health analytics when evaluating and modifying current employee benefits, remembering you may adjust how you treat employees based on community factors.

4. Look outside the healthcare ecosystem for new solutions and partners to impact the health of both your current and future workforce, as well as your organization and community.

5. Join a collective impact group to better understand your specific community and learn specific strategies for creating a productive work environment all while reducing healthcare costs.

Your No. 1 expense is employees followed closely by your benefit costs. It doesn’t make any sense to continue down the same path and expect different results.

Now is the time to look for new ways to make your workforce healthier and more focused, resulting in a better bottom line result.

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