Work plays an increasingly vital role in the lives of people in the U.S., impacting everything from one’s social support and financial security to their risk of experiencing health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.1, 2 Recent research from Deloitte suggests that employers are uniquely positioned to positively influence the well-being of their workforce and potentially increase the number of healthy years an employee lives by supporting a healthy lifestyle, controlling for the social drivers of health, and uplifting employees in their overall health and well-being.3, 4
In this discussion, panelists will share 10 strategies employers can apply to positively influence the health of their workforce and increase equity in health outcomes and access. Rooted in emerging research and prioritized through an expert consensus process, these promising approaches provide an actionable and achievable roadmap for addressing health inequities through workplace policies, practices, and culture. In addition, a local business leader will share their firsthand experience, challenges, and advice for others looking to promote workforce health equity. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the root causes of health inequities in the workplace and a toolkit of resources to evaluate and continuously improve the state of health equity within their own organizations.
References:
1. Psychosocial Stressors at Work and Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Men and Women: 18-Year Prospective Cohort Study of Combined Exposures (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epdf/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009700)
2. U.S. adults who felt discrimination at work faced increased risk of high blood pressure | American Heart Association (https://newsroom.heart.org/news/u-s-adults-who-felt-discrimination-at-work-faced-increased-risk-of-high-blood-pressure)
3. Economic cost of health disparities | Deloitte Insights (https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/economic-cost-of-health-disparities.html)
4. Employers can spark healthy aging | Deloitte Insights (https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/employers-aging-and-health.html)
Learning Objectives
After completing this session, participants will be able to:
1. Define and discuss the converging factors driving health inequities in the U.S. workforce and how employers can influence many of these factors through policies, practices, and culture.
2. List the 10 employer-led strategies to advance workforce health equity and demonstrate an understanding of how these strategies were evaluated and prioritized through an expert consensus process.
3. Apply the 10 health equity strategies in their own workplace based on the unique needs of their organization and workforce, using knowledge gained through sharing ideas, challenges, experiences, and achievements among a group of peers in various stages of the health equity journey. 1 ADV CECH Available