How Employers Can Address Employee Needs, Social Determinants

January 19, 2022 - The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (National Alliance) has offered a series of recommendations for employers that may help identify and address workers’ social determinants of health and social needs, including improving data collection and use.

Social determinants of health, including housing stability and economic status, can significantly impact individuals’ overall health. As employers craft benefits for their employees, they must consider these outside factors that can exacerbate health inequities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to inform employers about the best ways to address social determinants, National Alliance partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of the Associate Director for Policy and Strategy and the National Network of Public Health Institutes to conduct a yearlong learning initiative with that included employer participants from regional coalitions.

“Leading by Example and Moving Upstream Together” identified factors with which employers are already familiar regarding social determinants of health and social needs, as well as what actions they must take in the future to close gaps in addressing these needs.

Two National Alliance coalitions, the Kentuckiana Health Collaborative and Pittsburgh Business Group on Health, participated in the program. Each provided three employer members. Prior to the collaborative, the coalitions were engaged in addressing social determinants, racial bias, and health equity.

Employers noted key areas that could be addressed in order to enhance the overall health of their employees.

Improving employee access to healthcare by partnering with local health systems and health plans was one notable step that employers identified, as well as using resources and data to improve community health and wellbeing, address economic instability, and respond to social risk factors.

In addition to these insights, National Alliance provided recommendations for employers to consider as they develop their action plans.

First, the organization recommended that employers use demographic data of their employees—including income, race, ethnicity, and home address—to identify correlating social risk factors. By analyzing this data, employers can better understand the disparities their employees may be facing.

Employers should then use this data to understand and prioritize top employee concerns. Partnering with public or private organizations can offer access to community data as well and help employers expand their plans for addressing social risks.

“Leading coalitions and employers are increasingly examining the social factors that most impact the health and well-being of their workforces,” Margaret Rehayem, vice president of National Alliance, said in the press release.

“Bringing together community data with company data can help employers understand and address these factors in a meaningful, realistic way that supports a thriving and productive workplace. The value and importance of public/private partnerships and learning together can’t be overstated.”

National Alliance also recommended that employers consider a number of interventions when developing and executing a plan.

Employers should create health and wellbeing programs that are tailored to their employees’ specific needs instead of implementing one broad plan for everyone. Partnering with health plans and other community organizations can help employers address specific needs, according to the report.

Finally, National Alliance recommended that employers establish a baseline to measure outcomes and monitor progress along the way. This can help maintain success and identify areas of improvement. Partnering with stakeholders, perfecting program design, carrying out strategic communication, and maintaining employee engagement are critical for program success, according to the organization.

Additionally, it is key for employers to understand that addressing social needs, social risks, and social determinants of health should be a part of a larger strategy that seeks to address and improve health equity.

“Given the far-reaching impact to performance, morale and cost of care, this project found that employers were interested in their employees’ social determinants of health,” Christa-Marie Singleton, chief medical officer of the CDC’s Office of the Associate Director for Policy and Strategy, said in the press release.

“Organizations may want to consider that many of their employees may be facing issues such as homelessness and food insecurities. When employers can address the pressing conditions in their communities, it not only benefits the broader population, but also ensures that they have a healthier and more productive workforce.”