RETURNS ON WELLBEING PODCAST

Less than 5% of Americans are sufficiently active, eat a healthy diet, or maintain a healthy weight. And many suffer from chronic health conditions and workplace stress that cost employers billions yearly in lost productivity and higher healthcare costs. But while employee health is increasingly a priority for US employers, many workplace wellbeing programs are only partially successful because they expect individuals to be responsible for changing their behaviors. In this podcast, Dr. Richard Safeer, the Chief Medical Director of Employee Health and Well-Being at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who also leads the Healthy at Hopkins employee health and well-being strategy, provides an evidence-based roadmap for creating and shaping a culture of health.  In this podcast, which draws from Dr. Safeer's new book, A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Organization, you'll learn: How “cultures of health” can maximize well-being outcomes A step-by-step roadmap to creating a culture of health The roles of shared values, social climates, and peer support    The business benefits of creating successful well-being cultures Lessons from Johns Hopkins' wellness initiative Learn more about Dr. Safeer's book, A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workforce, a point-by-point blueprint to creating a robust culture of health at your company with practical strategies you can apply immediately. Learn more about Dr. Richard Safeer and his new learning program, Creating a Well-Being Culture Watch: 10 Minute Well-being Tips for Managers | How to Bring Well-Being to your Team (John Hopkins Medicine)

Aduro's CEO, Dr. Darren White discusses how employers can effectively address the diabetes crisis and boost employee health outcomes.

Aduro's CEO, Dr. Darren White discusses how employers can effectively address the diabetes crisis and boost employee health outcomes.

Workspace design is central to employee health by creating workspaces that support wellbeing and optimize job performance. This requires a people-first approach to ensure a comprehensive design strategy, even before addressing tangible aspects like architecture and furniture.  Doug Shapiro is VP of research and insights at OFS, a socially responsible furniture and logistics solutions, and hosts Imagine a Place podcast that explores how design impacts everyday living.  In this podcast, Doug discusses the role of people-first design and how it can improve employee wellbeing.

Many studies have tried to link employer wellness programs with financial returns. Despite attempts to prove that wellness programs can pay for themselves via positive business outcomes, there's still disagreement - and even fierce debate - about whether employee wellness can yield ROI. In this podcast, we talk with Ray Fabius, a physician executive who has served in academics, private practice, managed care, the health insurance industry.  We discuss Ray's recent study Companies That Promote a Culture of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Outperform in the Marketplace, published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine, which asserts that companies that priorititze employee health, safety, and wellbeing add value to investment portfolios. Fabius is also co-founder of HealthNEXT, a peer-reviewed Culture of Health program that combines data-driven assessments with a strategic roadmap backed by industry experts to help maximize workforce health and wellness while increasing performance.  

Karl Simons, former Chief Health, Safety & Wellbeing Officer at Thames Water Company, discusses how the company's mental health program lowered operating costs and boosted employee wellbeing.

The pandemic is clearly exacerbating mental health issues. Today, 4 in 10 adults suffer not only from anxiety and depression and report from difficulty sleeping higher alcohol consumption, and increased substance abuse.  The pandemic will have a lasting impact on employee mental health, and employers must take steps now to develop programs that ensure those suffering from mental health challenges get the help they need. Returns On Wellbeing Institute spoke with Darrell Moon, a former CEO of mental health hospitals and founder and CEO of Orriant, an employee wellbeing consultancy to explore the current mental health crisis and how employers can support employee mental health in the wake of Covid-19. Despite a bleak picture of employee mental health today, employers can make a real difference by removing mental health stigma, updating their benefits and employee assistance programs, and proactively helping employees address and recover from pandemic-related emotional issues. Learn more at www.orriant.com

We’re all vulnerable to financial emergencies, but not everyone has the available resources to navigate unexpected expenses. A root canal, major car repair or replacing a broken appliance can cause financial hardship for many families without adequate savings. Pandemic-related financial stress now afflicts more and more American workers, making them susceptible to short-term financial shocks. Employers must take steps to ensure workers, especially lower-paid workers, can manage economic shocks that lead to stress and lower workplace performance. Returns On Wellbeing Institute spoke with Debora Rolland, Executive Director of the Rhino Foods Foundation, who explains why and how employers can help their workforces meet everyday financial emergencies.  She also discusses Income Advance, a program launched by Rhino Foods in 2008 that provides short-term “loans” to Rhino Foods’ employees and helps reduce financial stress, improve credit, and increase savings while lowering absenteeism, boosting morale and cultivating more focused employees The Income Advance Guide was created by Rhino Foods and B Lab, two organizations committed to creating shared and durable prosperity. Deborah explains how employers can implement the Income Advance Program in their own companies. Learn more at www.incomeadvance.org.

Medical debt is an American crisis, with forty-one percent of working-age Americans struggle to pay off medical debts. And as more people lose healthcare coverage or struggle with high insurance deductibles, medical debt is a primary factor in employee financial stress. The Returns On Wellbeing Institute Podcast interviewed Allison Sesso, the Executive Director of RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing the burden of medical debt that has helped over 2 million people abolish more than $3 billion of oppressive medical debt.  Allison discusses how medical debt has become a major source of low financial wellbeing in America and offers strategies for employers to help employees avoid or tackle medical debt.

When children have positive experiences it contributes to good mental wellbeing in adulthood. But when children experience trauma, it can lead to lifelong challenges including substance abuse, anxiety disorders, depression, and other debilitating mental health conditions.  The Returns On Wellbeing Institute Podcast interviewed Diana Bishop, a Senior Learning Consultant and Certified Health and Wellness Coach for Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, about Adverse Childhood Experiences (or ACEs) defined as stressful events that occur in childhood that can have lasting effects through adulthood.  In this interview, Diana explains how ACEs contribute to workplace absenteeism, healthcare costs, and mental illness, and provides an overview of ACEs to help employers understand:  The role of childhood experiences in shaping human health An overview of ACEs and their relation to mental health How do ACEs affect adults in their everyday functioning Findings from the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study She shows how employers must help employees address untreated childhood trauma that can lead to mental health issues, chronic illnesses, and poor work performance. She also advises how to reduce stigma about ACEs, and incorporate ACE Scores as part of workplace mental health initiatives and helping employees get the help they need.

The World Health Organization states that mental health issues are the leading cause of illnesses worldwide. Since COVID-19, rising stress, anxiety and depression have become central determinants of health and wellbeing. The Returns On Wellbeing Institute Podcast interviewed Simon Berger, co-founder of Make A Difference Summits, a company that organizes events around the world to help employers eradicate the stigma around mental health in the workplace.  In this podcast, we get Simon’s personal observations on how workplace mental health is taking shape in the UK, Europe, USA and countries where MAD World operates, including:  Why the workplace central in addressing mental health  The costs of not addressing employee mental health  How the UK and Europe approach workplace mental health    Examples of employers with effective mental health programs Simon provides unique, first-hand insights into the monumental mental health impacts of Covid-19 and how this crisis will shape attitudes and priorities about mental health in the coming years. To learn more, visit Make A Difference Summits.

In commercial real estate, there’s a growing movement toward Well Buildings that improve indoor work environments and contribute to better employee health and wellbeing which can lead to higher productivity, engagement and profitability. The Returns On Wellbeing Institute Podcast interviewed Paul Scialla, founder and CEO of Delos, a real estate and technology company with a mission to boost human health and wellbeing, and founder of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a Leed-like certifying organization for Well Buildings. In this interview, Paul discusses how Well Building principles are improving indoor workspaces and discusses research at the Well Living Lab, a Delos and Mayo Clinic collaboration dedicated to identifying how indoor environments impact human health and well-being.   Paul explains how all businesses can affordably implement Well Building principles to adapt existing workspaces and new workspace considerations, particularly considering Covid-19. Finally, he explains how HR can make the case for Well Building improvements to CEOs and Boards of Directors as a bottom-line strategy. To learn more about Delos visit Delos.com.

Low mental/emotional wellbeing is a leading workplace health challenge. Much of the workforce now suffers from depression and anxiety disorders that contribute to unhealthy lifestyles and, according to a recent World Health Organization-led study, cost the global economy US $1 trillion each year in lost productivity.  Up to now, employers have been reluctant to approach employee mental health, or have not provided adequate access to mental health benefits. Yet, growing research shows that investing in workplace mental/emotional wellbeing can lead to healthier and more productive employees and measurable employer returns.  In this podcast, Darcy Gruttadaro discusses the challenges and opportunities for companies to improve employee mental/emotional wellbeing including: The top mental health challenges in US workplaces  What low employee mental/emotional wellbeing costs employers How to remove the stigma associated with mental illness  How to improve access to affordable mental healthcare Employer mental health initiative success stories About the guest:  Darcy Gruttadaro is the Director for the American Psychiatric Association’s Center for Workplace Mental Health where she writes, speaks and advocates for employee mental health. A lawyer by training, she previously worked in senior-level positions with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, focusing on expanding access to effective mental healthcare service. Visit: http://workplacementalhealth.org/  

Moderate stress is a natural and unavoidable part of life. But high stress that’s sustained over time can lead to serious physical and mental illness. The world health organization has said that high stress is a new health epidemic. It estimates that workplace stress costs American businesses more than $300 billion a year. Stress clearly is ruining employees, lives, and employers’ bottom lines. In this podcast, Dr. Richard Citrin, psychologist and author of The Resilience Advantage, will discuss what's behind today's high-stress levels and provide an approach to help employees address stress while helping employers build more resilient workplaces, including: Why stress in the United States has reached crisis levels How stress can impact workplace cultures How employers can assess workplace stress levels How resilience strategies can help employees deal with unavoidable stress About The Guest: Richard Citrin Ph.D., MBA  is a clinical and organizational psychologist,  facilitator and leadership coach. He has worked with American Airlines, FedEx, PNC Bank, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, LANXESS Corporation, The University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and many other large and small organizations. Richard’s book, The Resilience Advantage, details a new approach for addressing personal and organizational challenges in the workplace. Richard is a frequent speaker and media contributor who has published more than 30 articles and who has appeared in Forbes, Fortune, and the New York Times. Visit: www.citrinconsulting.com

No wellbeing program, however good, will work in resistant workplace cultures. Yet, many businesses implement wellness programs while ignoring the central role of culture in ensuring the success of any wellbeing initiative.   The result? The programs fail to take hold, are ignored or rejected by employees, and ultimately do not improve employee health or deliver meaningful business outcomes or ROI.    In this podcast, Jon Robison and Rosie Ward, co-founders of Salveo Partners and authors of How To Build a Thriving Culture at Work, discuss how organizations can greatly increase their chances for success when they create thriving workplace cultures. Why “culture” is central to improving employee wellbeing  The current state of workplace cultures in the US today  What employers are doing wrong  A model for creating supportive workplace cultures Companies who’ve successfully linked culture to employee wellbeing About Our Guests: Jon Robison and Rosie Ward are recognized leaders in the employee wellbeing movement. They are co-founders of Salveo Partners and authors of How To Build a Thriving Culture at Work. Jon Robison holds a doctorate in health education/exercise physiology.  He advocates shifting health promotion away from its traditional, biomedical, control-oriented focus; with a particular interest in why people do what they do and don't do what they don't do.  Rosie Ward holds a doctorate in Organization and Management. Her expertise lies in organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and worksite health promotion. Visit: www.salveopartners.com

Employee mental health challenges are on the rise and spiking employee stress levels from challenges both inside and outside the workplace are hindering job performance and contributing to higher healthcare costs. CDC has recently shown that depression is now a leading cause of physical illness, which directly impacts employer bottom lines. To address this mental health crisis, employers must take steps to remove the stigma around workplace mental illness and offer mental and emotional wellbeing programs that address high out-of-pocket costs for mental health services.   In this podcast, Dale Cook, founder of Learn to Live,  addresses the prevalence and reasons behind the rise of mental health issues in the workplace and discusses tools and strategies that employers can use to help employees get the help they need, including: The current state of mental health of today’s workforce  How rising stress and depression affect the workplace What’s behind the rise in mental health challenges? What role do employers have in addressing mental illness?    How virtual teletherapy is helping employees get the help they need How cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps workers develop coping skills About Our Guest Learn to Live’s mission is empowering people to improve their mental fitness. They support members by providing online assessments, 24/7 online programs, live coaching and other resources that address challenges with stress, anxiety, depression, social anxiety, and insomnia. Learn to Live members include college students, health plan members, employees and many others from all walks of life. Visit: www.learntolive.com

The economy is reportedly healthy with nearly full employment. Yet, surveys show that almost half of US employees struggle to pay for basic necessities, and four out of ten adults today could meet a $400 emergency without taking a loan or selling possessions.   Low employee financial wellbeing causes high employee stress levels that contribute to physical and mental illness and rising healthcare costs. Evidence shows that financial stress leads to distracted employees with lower engagement and job performance. In this podcast, we speak with Justine Zinkin, the CEO of Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, a non-profit provider of financial empowerment services for employers. Justine discusses ways that employers can help financially struggling workers and provides strategies to improve employee financial wellbeing, including: The extent of low employee financial wellbeing today How low employee financial wellbeing impacts employers The top challenges workers face in making ends meet Steps employers can take to help financially struggling employees   Examples of employers who’ve boosted employee financial wellbeing About Our Guest Neighborhood Trust is one of the nation’s leading providers of financial empowerment services and products. Their mission is to empower low-income individuals to become productive participants in the U.S. financial system and achieve their financial goals. Visit: www.neighborhoodtrust.org

This interview of Al Lewis highlights some of the controversies surrounding workplace wellness. Mr. Lewis is a harsh critic of some well-known wellness industry commentators. Mr. Lewis does not call out anyone by name, but he accuses the industry of lying when it claims to save money. He's highly critical of what he calls "pry, poke, and prod" approaches to employee wellness programs that not only (his words) fail to save money, but actually medically and emotionally harm participants. While I do not agree with everything Mr. Lewis says, his criticism must be considered and addressed. I agree that we cannot force employees to live healthier lifestyles, whether by penalties, incentives, or other activities--we must facilitate their wellbeing when they decide to pursue it. Listen to his critique and try to decide how to address (or change) today's workplace wellness industry.

Mike Thompson is the CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, formerly, the National Business Coalition on Health.  The National Alliance is an association of over 50 regional coalitions whose members provide healthcare coverage to over 45 Million Americans. Prior to the National Alliance, Mike was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and has played a leadership role in the destigmatization of mental and behavioral health. One of Mike's signature initiatives at the National Alliance is the Wellbeing Initiative which recognizes that if organizations are going to substantially improve their employees' health and engagement, the focus must move beyond "wellness" to "wellbeing."   Under his direction, the National Alliance has gathered a team of nationally-recognized experts to produce educational wellbeing workshops for its constituent coalitions and their members. Mike discusses this initiative in the broader context of the value of employee wellbeing. By way of example, he discusses why a "whole person" approach beyond just physical health to focus on, say, stress actually may reap greater and quicker returns both in terms of engagement and reducing coverage costs than focusing on obesity."

Dr. Rajiv Kumar is the President and Chief Medical Officer of Virgin Pulse Institute, the research arm of Virgin Pulse, one of Sir Richard Branson's ventures. Its purpose is to identify scalable, data-driven, consumer-centric solutions to the top workplace issues facing companies today. Dr. Kumar and Virgin Pulse Institute are enthusiastic supporters of employee wellbeing, engagement, and sustainable lifestyle change. Dr. Kumar jumped into this arena while he was still attending  Brown University Medical School when he founded ShapeUp RI in 2006. Over the ensuing decade, he built that start-up from a dorm room idea to ShapeUp, a global company of over 100 employees, 800 organizational customers, and 2 million participants worldwide. In 2016, Dr. Kumar joined Virgin Pulse Institute after its acquisition of ShapeUp. Click here to read the edited transcript of the podast inteview with Dr. Rajiv Kumar. 

Saul Kaplan is the Founder and Chief Catalyst of the Business Innovation Factory located in downtown Providence, RI. Saul started BIF in 2005 with a mission to enable collaborative organizational innovation. BIF is a nonprofit which creates a real world laboratory for innovators to explore. It tests new business models and system level solutions in areas of high social importance, including healthcare. Healthcare is one of BIF’s areas of expertise, and Saul discusses innovative strategies in healthcare delivery and in workplace wellbeing.

Darrell Moon is the founder and CEO of Orriant, a workplace wellbeing organization that provides services to employers nationwide for over two decades. Darrell brought his behavioral health background to bear in emphasizing the importance of overcoming mental/behavioral barriers to better health. A strong proponent of “wellbeing,” his program emphasizes the whole person approach, and Orriant brings to bear a full-service workplace wellbeing menu that emphasizes personal, one-on-one coaching and accountability. Orriant’s website posts data demonstrating its successes with employers. Darrell and his company embody the sort of approach espoused by Returns On Wellbeing. Click here to read the edited transcript of the podast inteview with Darrell Moon. 

Dr. Ron Goetzel is the VP of consulting and applied research for IBM Watson Health. He holds a second position as Senior Scientist and Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Goetzel leads research projects for employers and other healthcare purchasers interested in the relationship between health and wellbeing, medical costs, and work-related productivity. Dr. Goetzel is an internationally recognized and widely published expert in, among other things, evaluations of health promotion programs and return on investment (ROI) from such programs. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and frequently presents at intern’l business and scientific forums. We discuss his work, and his findings on why wellness has largely failed in the workplace, and what is needed. He emphasizes the importance of a culture of wellbeing as the basis for focused programs.  

Paul Clark is a founder of Clark & Lavey, a full-service employer benefits solutions brokerage company. Paul’s particular area of expertise is employer healthcare insurance and self insurance. Paul discusses issues with traditional health insurance and the benefits of self insurance. He also explains how to mitigate risk through stop loss, reinsurance, and captive pools. Paul also discusses what to look for in broker-partners.

Michael Samuelson has spent almost four decades in the wellness/wellbeing arena in various roles, including entrepreneur, university professor, community organizer, and US health policy advisor. Michael also was a colleague of mine as the CEO of RI Blue Cross’ subsidiary, the Health & Wellness Institute. Michael’s writings have been read by millions throughout the world, and endorsed by medical organizations, leaders, and media personalities, including George HW Bush, Betty Ford, C Everett Koop, and Larry King. Michael discusses why workplace wellness has failed and why a comprehensive workplace wellbeing approach is what is needed. He also discusses the importance of a whole person approach that takes into account the mental/emotional components of wellbeing.