|
IBM's global health promotion objectives focus on health risk reduction and helping low risk employees maintain low risk. Over the past several years we have improved the integration of wellness programs in order to help employees better navigate and access offerings.
Health and well-being initiatives are promoted as an integrated building block approach that begins with taking a personal health assessment, establishing a plan for lifestyle enhancement, and taking action. These steps provide employees with the education and tools they need to positively impact their personal health and work productivity.
The health promotion strategy is global, but programs are customized to address local needs and cultures. Programs include early diagnosis and disease prevention efforts, such as clinical screenings, immunizations, physical fitness activities, nutrition and weight counseling, and stress management. Other primary prevention efforts include ergonomics and injury/illness prevention programs. Secondary prevention programs focus on early treatment and prevention of complications associated with illness and injury such as condition management, case management and targeted examinations.
Well-being and health promotion
| |
Life at home |
Life in the workplace |
| Preventive and wellness programs |
Work/Life Balance Programs
Flexible Work Options
Leaves of Absence
Programs that allow employees to work with their managers to modify their work schedules, or to take months off to balance their work and life
Employee Assistance Program
Professional counseling for a broad range of concerns, including substance abuse and depression
Health Promotion
Tools and information that help employees to take responsibility for their health
|
Accident/Illness Prevention
Workplace health and safety programs, such as protective equipment and safety training
Quality of Workplace Environment
Programs to make the workplace more comfortable, including proper lighting and other ergonomic considerations
Quality of Facilities
Building and fire safety, and accessibility for persons with physical disabilities
|
| Healthcare management programs |
Disability Management
Support to help employees obtain appropriate healthcare, and to identify and obtain the accommodations necessary to facilitate their return to work
Conditions Management
Voluntary, free program to help people with certain conditions take an active role in managing their health
|
Temporary Assignment
Progressive Return to Work
Accommodations that allow an employee with health-related limitations to continue working or to return to work after an illness leave
|
To meet a range of needs, IBM offers well-being and health programs onsite and online. Some of the more comprehensive programs and services are integrated with employee health benefits plans.
Onsite programs
Health and wellness programs at IBM locations give employees the ability to manage their well-being without the constraints of arranging appointments, travel, extra expense, and other potential obstacles.
Express Wellness Onsite is a program, offered at select U.S. sites, that provides important health screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, body fat percentage, and bone density, as well as wellness coach consultation and goal setting.
Online programs
Through online programs, employees can access health and wellness programs without leaving their office or home.
In the United States, employees can use the Virtual Fitness Center (VFC), an online tool, to help make physical fitness a part of their daily lives. Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from any computer with Internet access, the VFC enables employees to set goals, track their activity and chart their success, and stay focused on fitness goals year-round.
The Health and Wellness Companion is an interactive online health information tool that employees can use to make informed choices about their health. They can learn about prescription and nonprescription medications, evaluate their health risks, and discover ways to improve their health, including better nutrition, stress management, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Employee assistance programs
IBM believes that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. Employee assistance programs (EAP) are available to help employees manage the stress associated with work and life priorities.
In 2001, IBM piloted an EAP for more than 3,000 employees in India. Among the focus areas for the program are managing change, grief and bereavement, marriage and family problems, depression, integrating work and life, and managing personal stress. Beyond printed materials, key deliverables have included orientation programs, face-to-face counseling, telephone counseling, and referral services. The program has been successful and enhancements are currently under way. IBM Japan and IBM China also recently added EAP programs, which provide an in-house approach and use a team of local counselors to assist employees.
Conditions management
Living with a chronic condition can be challenging and costly. In the United States, for employees and their family members enrolled in certain health plans, IBM offers the Care Advantage condition management program to help those with asthma, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, depression and diabetes better manage their health. Services are offered at no cost and are completely voluntary.
Program participants work with a personal Care Manager, who provides support based on the individual's specific medical condition and needs. The program also offers direct, toll-free access to a professional clinician 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To date, there are more than 15,000 employees and their dependents participating in the IBM Care Advantage program.
By helping people receive better care management for their conditions, we also help them prevent complications, improve their quality of life, and enhance productivity at work, at school, at home and in the community.
Stress management
We take the issue of preventing and managing stress seriously. IBM's Global Stress Management program includes a stress intervention Web site, online manager stress intervention training, and location-specific stress management resources. Should those efforts need augmenting, additional tools are generally available through health benefits programs, which range from major benefits plans to services that specifically address mental health.
Several IBM locations in Europe offer Team Well-being interventions, which help organizations or teams assess their specific causes of stress and take action to reduce them. For example, IBM Germany offers a stress management program that is adaptable to all types of work situations, with a particular focus on the needs of mobile workers. The program includes training for managers on how to help their employees cope with stress, as well as education for employees on managing stress. Learning offerings are available in person and on demand through the IBM intranet.
Driving safety
Driving safety has been an ongoing priority at IBM. Driver safety programs have been deployed in many countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the United States. Since the U.S. program was enhanced in 2000, motor vehicle accidents among the company's fleet drivers have significantly decreased from seven accidents per 100 vehicles in 2000 to four accidents per 100 vehicles in 2003. Furthermore, the accidents that did occur following the training program resulted in much less severe personal injury. In 2000, personal injury associated with motor vehicle crashes accounted for 15 percent of the company's workers' compensation experience, compared with only 4 percent in 2003.
|
