2014 Trend Report

CORPORATE HEALTH TRENDS 2014:
10 KEY RECOMMENDED ACTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR GLOBAL WORKFORCE

The 2014 Corporate Health Trends Report assessed current literature and reviewed corporate polling results to provide management recommendations to best protect an organization's mobile workforce. The Council surveyed global organizations, reviewed recent literature and canvassed leading experts to document the most relevant global corporate health trends for 2014. The Council identified these actions based on the framework of PEOPLE, PLACE and PURPOSE.

The purpose of the 2014 report was three-fold:

  1. Evaluate and document the global health trends for the year and the real and potential impact of these trends on employee health;
  2. Provide expert guidance to corporate management regarding the benchmark standards and best practices to mitigate the impact of these negative trends;
  3. Identify and recognize corporations which demonstrate the best in international corporate health services to support their internationally mobile workforce.

Below are six health trends and 10 key recommended actions which were created in the 2014 report.

2014 Global Corporate Health Trends

  1. Businesses growth in emerging markets continues to expand.
  2. Workforces in emerging markets are increasing in parallel.
  3. Expectation for the provision of quality healthcare service is increasing globally.
  4. As more enterprise operations penetrate emerging and remote locations,
    companies, in the spirit of their Duty of Care, have made healthcare for their
    workforce a priority.
  5. An aging workforce has introduced an increasing sub-population having chronic
    noncommunicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes) which
    can negatively impact productivity, and reductions of in-country healthcare may
    result in these individuals having less than optimal control of their disorders.
  6. The local workforce in these emerging nations have unique healthcare needs.

2014 Global Corporate Health Trends: 10 Key Recommended Actions

PEOPLE

Orient, train and equip personnel prior to departure.
Pre-travel medical information should be provided for all international travelers and assignees (and dependents) as well as training and medical kits for those working in high-risk locations.

Proactively assist at-risk personnel.
Pre-assignment screening and medical accommodation is recommended for those at-risk personnel assigned to high medical risk locations.

Access to corporate medical resources are recommended.
Corporate medical resources are critical for all organizations to support and manage their global health programs and provide expertise/counsel in cases of emergency.

24/7/365 medical assistance must be available globally with company insight and decision making capabilities.
Medical assistance services from a health expert with local knowledge must be available in real-time and 24/7/365 for all travelers and assignees.

PLACE

Understand and manage the medical risks where organizational operations exist.
A site medical risk assessment and local medical emergency response plans are recommended for high medical risk work locations and populations.

Where local healthcare gaps exist, organizations may need to fill the void.
On-site clinics and/or company-arranged medical services are recommended where local healthcare resources cannot or will not meet the organizational need.

Business sustainability requires health crisis management plans and the resources to respond effectively.
A corporate health crisis management plan is recommended which must be maintained, tested and resourced globally.

Understand local occupational health requirements & identify company-specific and industry standards.
Ensure compliance with all local occupational health regulations and follow a corporate standard which often aligns with industry standards.

PURPOSE

Corporate health policies must drive the agenda.
Policies are recommended to clearly define the global health agenda and ensure consistent health program delivery.

Health is a major pillar of corporate social responsibility. 
Health Impact Assessments help assure there is no negative business impact on community health and help identify and document positive health and safety impact opportunities.