One-third of multinationals plan to implement programs in next two years
Less than one-quarter of Canadian multinationals have a strategy to improve the health and productivity of their workers, according to a survey by consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide.
As health-care costs rise around the globe, multinationals are increasingly adding these programs, however most countries lag behind the United States where 65 per cent of multinationals have such a strategy.
In the survey of 90 multinational companies, this number falls to 22 per cent in Canada, 21 per cent in Asia-Pacific, 16 per cent in Europe and 15 per cent in Latin America. However, one-third of Canadian multinationals plan to develop a health and productivity strategy over the next two years.
“Multinationals have used health and productivity strategies in the U.S. to help combat the enormous burdens of rising health-care costs,” said Bob Wesselkamper, director of international consulting at Watson Wyatt.
“Outside the United States, multinationals have been somewhat insulated from increasing health-care costs, but they may find that things are changing. As many countries consider reducing state-funded health benefits, multinationals will find that well-implemented health programs will help keep costs down and productivity up worldwide.”
Ninety-three percent of multinationals offer preventive care coverage in the U.S. compared with 42 per cent outside the U.S. Likewise, 76 per cent offer disease management and 70 per cent offer return-to-work programs in the U.S. compared with 21 per cent and 28 per cent respectively outside the U.S.
“The trend toward increasing health and productivity programs coincides with growing evidence that these programs are providing a return on investment and driving down costs,” said Shelly Wolff, national director of health and productivity consulting at Watson Wyatt.
“As multinationals gain more experience in this area, it is likely that their use of health and productivity programs will continue to steadily grow in all regions. The benefits from improved worker health and productivity are universal.”
As health-care costs rise around the globe, multinationals are increasingly adding these programs, however most countries lag behind the United States where 65 per cent of multinationals have such a strategy.
In the survey of 90 multinational companies, this number falls to 22 per cent in Canada, 21 per cent in Asia-Pacific, 16 per cent in Europe and 15 per cent in Latin America. However, one-third of Canadian multinationals plan to develop a health and productivity strategy over the next two years.
“Multinationals have used health and productivity strategies in the U.S. to help combat the enormous burdens of rising health-care costs,” said Bob Wesselkamper, director of international consulting at Watson Wyatt.
“Outside the United States, multinationals have been somewhat insulated from increasing health-care costs, but they may find that things are changing. As many countries consider reducing state-funded health benefits, multinationals will find that well-implemented health programs will help keep costs down and productivity up worldwide.”
Ninety-three percent of multinationals offer preventive care coverage in the U.S. compared with 42 per cent outside the U.S. Likewise, 76 per cent offer disease management and 70 per cent offer return-to-work programs in the U.S. compared with 21 per cent and 28 per cent respectively outside the U.S.
“The trend toward increasing health and productivity programs coincides with growing evidence that these programs are providing a return on investment and driving down costs,” said Shelly Wolff, national director of health and productivity consulting at Watson Wyatt.
“As multinationals gain more experience in this area, it is likely that their use of health and productivity programs will continue to steadily grow in all regions. The benefits from improved worker health and productivity are universal.”
