Promising practices in employer health and productivity management efforts: findings from a benchmarking study.

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. CONCLUSION 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.