Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Best Practice Score: What Are Your Organization’s Opportunities for Improvement?
Dr. Sara Johnson is a Senior Research Fellow at HERO where she provides research thought leadership and identifies funding opportunities for new studies through grants and industry partnerships. In addition, she is also Co-President & CEO of Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc., a behavior change consulting firm and solution provider that …
Social Determinants of Health Practices by Organization Size, Industry Type, and Region.
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions that shape and influence employee experiences where they are born, grow, play, learn, work, and pray.1 They are the conditions that have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life, which in turn influence productivity and performance in the …
Mental Health and Well-being Practices by Organization Size, Industry type, and Region
Mental health consists of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being – all of which influence peoples’ daily thoughts, feelings, and actions both at home and in the workplace (1). Mental health conditions are among the most common health conditions, with an estimated 1 in 5 Americans (1 in 8 globally) …
Searching for the Path from Employer Wellness Programs to Healthier Employees for Small Businesses
The University of Washington Health Promotion Center completed a cluster-randomized, controlled trial of HealthLinks, which promotes implementation of 12 evidence-based interventions (EBIs) aimed at increasing cancer screening, healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco cessation. The three-armed trial in 78 workplaces compared HealthLinks alone, HealthLinks with workplace wellness committees, and a …
Inclusivity and Spirituality: Reflecting on Lifestyle Medicine Approaches at HERO Forum 2022 By: Jamie Cohen
Jamie Cohen As a health promotion graduate student eager to learn and grow, I was ready to start my tasks as a HERO Forum22 intern and immerse myself in the experience. At that moment, I was unsure of what to expect. During my two-day internship, I made lasting relationships with …
A Cure for the Common Company
The health and wellness industry has historically focused on individual health behaviors as the fastest path to change, but what if it isn’t? What if we need a supportive workplace and the collective effort of the workforce to help us stay on a healthy and well path? Too often our …
2023 Winter Think Tank
November 2022 Briefs
HERO Gratitude & Looking Forward As we near the end of 2022, HERO looks back on the year with gratitude. We have spent this year reconvening in person, honoring our award recipients and working on research that connects science to practice. HERO was thrilled to gather in Amelia Island, Florida …
Are You Addressing the Mental Health, DEI, and SDOH Needs of Your Employees?
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated many mental health issues and further revealed health inequities that may be influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH) and the lack of belonging felt by some employees. HERO and Mercer collaborated to develop best practice scores for these three key areas: mental health and …
Supporting Mothers in the Workforce Creates Equity
Mary Imboden is the Director of Research at the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), where she oversees the research agenda, research committees, and the HERO Health and Well-being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer©. Mary is also the Chair and an assistant professor of the Kinesiology Department at George …