When I contracted a new EAP vendor, I manufactured a reason to schedule several counseling appointments. Okay, so I admit it. With my crazy life, it wasn’t that hard to find an excuse. When we started our first Health Reimbursement Account, I enrolled even though my husband’s plan was cheaper. Why? HR metrics and measures abound, but sometimes there’s no substitute for what we learn from a little personal experience with the programs and processes we inflict on create for others
Take a quick scan of your workforce. Is there a significant percentage of working moms? If not, don’t be surprised. A 2009 study from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business found that 28 percent of women with Harvard MBAs had left the workforce 15 years after receiving their degree.HR professionals should take a step back to scrutinize their organizations’ benefits policies to better obtain and retain talented women.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” Only 12% of Americans have proficient health literacy skills, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy. We live in an increasing consumer-centric health care environment and must collect, assimilate and take action on health information for our personal health.
As a commuter, I embraced my commute in an optimistic fashion. Now, I am starting to enjoy the benefits of being closer to home.