title: Promising practices in employer health and productivity management efforts: findings from a benchmarking study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify key success factors related to employer-based health and productivity management (HPM) programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data regarding promising practices in HPM were gathered via literature review, discussions with subject matter experts, online inventory, and site visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Promising practices in HPM include 1) integrating HPM programs into the organization's operations; 2) simultaneously addressing individual, environmental, policy, and cultural factors affecting health and productivity; 3) targeting several health issues; 4) tailoring programs to address specific needs; 5) attaining high participation; 6) rigorously evaluating programs; and 7) communicating successful outcomes to key stakeholders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased efforts should be directed at disseminating the experiences of promising practices. However, more research is needed in this area, so that additional public and private funding is made available for applied research in "real-life" business settings. Finally, employers should be provided effective tools and resources to support their HPM efforts.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, Cornell University, Washington DC 20008, USA. ron.goetzel@thomson.com
authors.forename: Ron Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Goetzel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shechter
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ozminkowski
authors.forename: Paula F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Marmet
authors.forename: Maryam J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.forename: Enid Chung
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Roemer
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection; D004526:Efficiency; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D009862:Online Systems; D017132:Workplace