A forward-thinking report authored by a team of leading experts—including several members of the HealthNEXT leadership team, Dr. Raymond Fabius, David Kirshenbaum, Dixon Thayer, and Ivor Kiwi—along with collaborators from the CDC Foundation, Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health (GPBCH), and Tufts Medical Center, has been published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM). Advancing Employer Cultures of Health and Well-being: Lessons for Business Coalitions and Employers details how a collaborative, evidence-based sequenced approach can help employers transform their workplace cultures and drive measurable improvements in employee health, wellbeing, and organizational performance.
As part of this study, seven diverse employers joined a structured, year-long Employer Learning Collaborative led by HealthNEXT, the CDC Foundation, and GPBCH. Through this collaborative, HR and benefits leaders from organizations representing nearly 185,000 employees shared best practices with other participants, tackled common challenges, and received expert guidance from executive physician advisors—all while working together to accelerate progress and accountability. An average 80-point improvement was achieved in a benchmark culture of health and wellbeing assessment score. Our research shows that for every 50-point improvement, there’s a corresponding 1% reduction in medical cost trend.
Why the Need for a Collaborative: Addressing Today’s Workforce Health Challenges
Employers today face mounting challenges in supporting workforce health and wellbeing. As shared in the report, over half of Americans receive their health benefits through their employer, but rising health care costs, increased rates of chronic disease, and surging stress and mental health concerns are straining both employees and organizations. In 2025, 75% of employees report struggling with low mood or stress, and 81% believe more mental health support is needed at work. Meanwhile, employers are under pressure to balance escalating benefit costs with the need to attract, engage, and retain talent in a highly competitive market.
The employers who joined this initiative were motivated by a desire to address these pressing issues head-on. Many recognized that traditional wellness programs were not delivering the sustained engagement or outcomes needed. They sought a more strategic, holistic approach to advancing employee health—one that would not only improve well-being but also drive productivity, reduce absenteeism, and help moderate health care costs. By participating in the collaborative, these organizations aimed to:
- Identify and close gaps in their current health and well-being strategies
- Overcome barriers such as low engagement, limited resources, and competing business priorities
- Build a resilient, supportive culture that empowers employees to thrive
- Position themselves as employers of choice in a rapidly changing landscape
Key Takeaways Learned from the Collaborative
- Measurable Culture Change: Using HealthNEXT’s Corporate Health Assessment Score (CHAS) tool, employers identified gaps and strengths across ten key pillars of a healthy workplace. On average, companies improved their culture of health scores by 80 points—from 60% to 71% of the benchmark for high-performing organizations. The greatest gains were seen in leadership engagement, strategic planning, and communications.
- Value of the Collaborative Approach: The collaborative model enabled employers to break down silos, share experiences, and learn from one another’s challenges and successes. This approach not only accelerated progress but also fostered a sense of shared accountability and innovation. Feedback from participants overwhelmingly confirmed the value of the collaborative: 100% agreed that the program met their expectations and helped advance their organization’s culture of health and wellbeing, and qualitative interviews highlighted the benefits of peer learning, expert support, and actionable planning.
- Leadership and Engagement Are Critical: Organizations with strong leadership commitment and active management involvement saw the most significant progress. Participants noted that executive support not only accelerated change but also helped dedicate more resources and align health strategies with broader business goals.
- Actionable Roadmaps and Expert Support: Each employer received a tailored strategic plan and ongoing support from a physician executive advisor. This hands-on approach helped HR and benefits teams organize priorities, overcome barriers, and implement best practices—regardless of organization size or industry.
- Overcoming Common Barriers: The study highlighted typical challenges, including competing corporate priorities, staff turnover, and the complexity of benefit design changes. The collaborative format and expert guidance helped employers navigate these obstacles and maintain momentum.
- Positive Impact Beyond the Workplace: By improving workplace cultures of health, employers not only benefit their employees but also contribute to healthier communities. The participating organizations’ efforts potentially touched over 425,000 lives, underscoring the far-reaching impact of employer leadership in public health.
What Employers Said
> “The single biggest impact is being able to organize everything we want to do in a meaningful way.”
> “It opened my eyes to where the holes are, what we really could do better, and also highlighted what we’re really great at.”
Why This Matters
- Proven, Scalable Approach: The results demonstrate that with the right tools, expert support, and peer collaboration, employers of any size can make significant strides in building a culture of health and wellbeing.
- Business Value: Improvements in culture of health scores are linked to moderated medical costs, increased productivity, and enhanced reputation as an employer of choice.
- Sustainable Change: The structured, evidence-based methodology provides a foundation for ongoing improvement, empowering HR and benefits leaders to drive lasting impact.
Ready to Transform Your Organization?
Explore how HealthNEXT’s proven methodology and collaborative model can help your organization advance its culture of health and wellbeing. Contact us today to learn more about our approach and how to get started.
