Equipping employers to address costly health inequities, improve workforce well-being

(Press-News.org) Embargoed until 8:00 a.m. CT / 9:00 a.m. ET Monday, March 13, 2023

DALLAS and ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 13, 2023 — Health inequities can be detrimental to employees’ emotional, psychological and physical health and place a significant economic burden on employers. To improve employee well-being and reduce health inequities nationwide, the American Heart Association—a global force for longer, healthier lives for all—introduces the Health Equity in the Workforce initiative in collaboration with the Deloitte Health Equity Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation.

The Health Equity in the Workforce initiative will combine insights from diverse business leaders and the latest science to develop guidance and tools to help advance health equity in the workplace. The work will include convening employers and community organizations to drive action, providing tools to measure the impact of health equity strategies and recognizing organizational achievements to incentivize change across the business landscape. By 2025, the initiative aims to enable positive health outcomes for 10 million U.S. workers, roughly 10% of the workforce who earn less than the national median income.[1]

“The evidence is clear. Building a workplace where all employees can thrive is both a moral and business imperative,” said Nancy Brown, American Heart Association chief executive officer. “The Health Equity in the Workforce initiative connects business leaders with a practical framework for tackling workforce health inequities and a network of leaders to amplify their impact.”

Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to live a healthy life, a far cry from the reality that generations of Americans have experienced. Health and well-being are highly individualized experiences, with economic, environmental and social conditions—including years of structural discrimination and systemic barriers—contributing to disparities in health outcomes.

Research shows that addressing the drivers of health inequities can help employers improve workplace well-being, increase employee engagement and productivity, and lower health care costs.[2] Health inequities account for roughly $320 billion in annual U.S. health care spending and counting, according to recent analysis from Deloitte.[3]

“Addressing health inequities is everyone’s responsibility, and we won’t achieve a healthier or more equitable future if we accept it as solely a health care organization’s responsibility to solve,” said Lynne Sterrett, RN, U.S. life sciences and health care consulting leader, and managing principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Initiatives like these can help employers make an exponential impact across their workforce by tailoring efforts to those who need support the most. We all stand to benefit from building a healthier workforce, including employees, their families and even the organization’s bottom line.”[4]

Johnny C. Taylor Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and CEO of SHRM, added, “Executives are uniquely positioned to challenge health inequities across all facets of their influence—through their connections with employees, products and services, and the broader industry ecosystem. By giving leaders the tools and training they need to take bold, broad action, we can achieve better health within our organizations’ walls, in our communities and ultimately throughout our country.”

The American Heart Association’s Health Equity in the Workforce initiative helps employers make informed decisions for the health and well-being of their employees while helping build consumer trust and positioning themselves as an employer of choice. The initiative is powered by the American Heart Association’s Well-being Works Better™ platform, which helps business leaders unleash the power of a healthy, happy workforce. Visit heart.org/workforce to learn more.

Spanish News Release

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

About SHRM Foundation

Founded in 1966, the SHRM Foundation is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the world's largest HR professional society, SHRM. SHRM represents more than 300,000 HR professionals across the globe, impacting 115 million workers and their families. The SHRM Foundation mobilizes the power of HR for positive social change in the workplace. Its robust resources, meaningful partnerships and evidence-based programming educate and empower HR professionals to hire diverse talent, build inclusive workplaces, prioritize workplace mental health and wellness, develop, and support the next generation of HR professionals, and help employees find purpose at work and beyond. Learn more at shrmfoundation.org.

About Deloitte

Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of Deloitte’s legal structure.

[1] Median Weekly Earnings of Full‐Time Wage and Salary Workers by Detailed Occupation and Sex. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022, https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat39.htm.

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increase Productivity. 2015. Accessed January 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/model/control-costs/benefits/productivity.html#:%7E:text=In%20general%2C%20healthier%20employees%20are%20more%20productive.&text=The%20cost%20savings%20of%20providing,costs%20to%20train%20replacement%20employees

[3] Bhatt, Dr. Jay, et al. US Health Care Can't Afford Health Inequities. Deloitte Insights, Deloitte, June 2022, https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/economic-cost-of-health-disparities.html.

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increase Productivity. 2015.

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