Health and Wellbeing

Health Literacy: Improving health knowledge among our employees

Project manager:

Christine Neumann - CSR Europe

Project leaders:

Edenred, MSD, Microsoft, Nestlé, BITC UK, Maastricht University

Challenge

Health literacy activities in the business context create value not only for employees, but also for businesses. By investing in a health- friendly work environment, businesses can increase employee well- being and productivity, thus reducing absences and lowering costs. Businesses play an important role not only as employers, but also as advocates for health in society. Technology and social networking can raise awareness and health literacy of employees and society as a whole, fostering a healthier lifestyle for all.

Objectives

  • This project should contribute to healthier lifestyles in Europe and therefore increased productivity by supporting health knowledge and skills of employees and indirectly the wider community. Aims include: Turn the concept of health literacy into practical action
  • Collect innovative products/tools to improve health literacy and pilot remarkable projects in interested companies

Key activities

Companies involved in the Collaborative Project on Health Literacy are in the process of developing tools aimed at empowering employees by improving their knowledge in health and wellbeing. Key activities include:

  • Collection of best practices, case studies and innovative technologies and recommendations in the field of health literacy
  • At least 3 health literacy stakeholder workshops/webinars
  • Promote the innovative approach on a European platform that demonstrates the business contribution in health promotion
  • Include knowledge/experience of other stakeholders
  • Develop a management tool for health literacy programs
  • In-company pilot projects to provide evidence for the blueprint management tool

More information can be found in the project plan. 

Deliverable

The project aims at developing  a “Blueprint for Business Action in  Health Literacy”, with a view to easing the implementation of  health literacy programs for employees. 

Upcoming dates for your diaries

  • Health Literacy Expert Webinar, 14 June 2012 15.00 - 16.00 CET - More information
  • Health Literacy Expert Webinar,  November 2012
  • Health Literacy EU Conference, February 2013

Activities to date:

EU Workshop discusses draft Blueprint and pilot projects, 19 March 2012

Conference on Health Literacy, 22/23 November 2011 

Health Literacy Webinar, 9 November 2011

Stakeholder Session on “Business Action for Employees’ Health Literacy”, 6 April 2011, Brussels

EU Conference, "Promotion of Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace", 3/4 March 2011, Berlin

EU Health Literacy Research Activities 2011 - 2012

In support of the Collaborative Project “Business Action on Health Literacy”, CSR Europe and Maastricht University conducted during the past 2 years several research activities based on desk research and interviews conducted with CSR Europe’s corporate members. The outcomes of these activities are mentioned in several studies. The outcomes of the phone interviews are summarized in a good practice study summary report. All documents can be found below:

 

For more information, please contact Christine Neumann at cn@csreuorpe.org