In a recent piece for the Washington Examiner titled, “LeBron’s Cavs Challenge Businesses to Boost Worker Health Off the Job,” Paul Bedard highlighted the Health Means Business Champions Network, a community wellness movement led by the U.S. Chamber Foundation with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Its purpose is to help create healthier citizens and a healthier workforce.
Fueling the movement is the idea that the U.S. business community and its stakeholders have the ability, talent and vision to help reverse disturbing health trends that threaten America’s global competitiveness.These days, the call for businesses to take an active role in promoting community health and wellness is reverberating well beyond the Beltway.
The Health Means Business Champions Network’s leaders commit to take big strides forward in boosting the health of their cities and towns through actionable strategies and tips. In Cleveland, Ohio, this passion for creating change was demonstrated by Len Komoroski, CEO of the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, when he became the first to take the Health Means Business Wellness Pledge.
In Fort Worth, Texas, people are passionate about scoring wins when it comes to community health. Leaders, including chamber presidents, hospital CEOs and nonprofit and community leaders are already implementing innovative strategies aimed at creating healthier, happier and more productive citizens and employees.
As early advocates for the Health Means Business movement, we believe that community health is most profoundly affected by individual choices. Healthier cities are more productive cities, with a higher rate of engagement and sustainability for a city long term. For Fort Worth, it’s not about creating a “nanny” culture; it’s about educating citizens.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), largely preventable productivity losses linked to employees who miss work cost employers $225.8 billion, or $1,685 per employee, each year. Employers cite even higher costs in tangible financial terms and in lost opportunity.
According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a significant portion of what makes up our health is influenced by our environment — where we live, work and play — meaning health is more closely correlated with our ZIP code than our genetic code.
Fort Worth, a city considered an economic engine for the state of Texas, has an incredible pull for businesses looking to expand or relocate. In 2015, the Fort Worth Chamber brought nearly $3 billion in new investment to the area. As the 16th largest city in the nation, Fort Worth prides itself on being fast-growing, economically strong, culturally rich and incredibly diverse.
But the city’s competitive edge lies in more than just offering a strong economy with great jobs at companies like Facebook and American Airlines. As a thriving hub where the median age is just over 31 years, Fort Worth is focused on attracting millennials.
Research trends show that, for millennials, it isn’t just about the paycheck anymore. They want to see that their company values their overall well-being. For years, Fort Worth has made community health a priority, starting with city initiates like FitWorth and Healthways’ Blue Zones Project, a policy-oriented organization.
City leaders in one instance brought a bike-share program to a community that 10 years before would have more likely hosted horses on its vast river trail system instead of cyclists.
These and other efforts are creating tangible results: a healthier population, a thriving economy, good jobs and top-rated schools. We believe America’s competitiveness relies on better health for its citizens.
America’s health is our wealth and future — a critical element of our ability to grow strong communities and businesses. The challenges we face are complex, but the Health Means Business Champions Network is all about taking that crucial first step.
Betsy Price is the Mayor of Fort Worth, Texas. Marc DeCourcey is senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
