This global vision is not based around individual initiatives, but it is strategically embedded in the company. American Express has developed global metrics, common health themes, hired staff with wellness expertise, developed a global marketing strategy and invested financially in crafting its global healthy living objectives.
The launch of this scheme in its European markets in 2011 followed a wellness audit that measured existing provision, health risk in each market, opportunity to impact, leadership support, local resource requirements and market appetite.
Each country was assigned a healthy living country manager, who would report directly to an EMEA health and benefits director, and staff feedback was involved in the development of all programmes.
While American Express admits there is nothing new about a large company launching a benefits strategy, the organisation was wise to the fact different regions have different needs for wellbeing and declined to roll out blanket schemes across the whole company. Through meticulous gathering and analysis of data, American Express worked out what was needed where and ensured buy-in from the business for every health launch. At the same time, it was concerned it should be presenting this to employees by simple means. Leaders were encouraged to lead from the front and have been enthusiastic in hosting 'lunch and learn' sessions, signing up for health programmes and dedicating time for all teams to complete health assessments.
CEO Ken Chenault is keen to lead by example and has visited the UK to promote healthy living.
Communication of wellbeing ranges from Twitter and Foursquare use to handing out fruit to staff. And employees are encouraged to make their own smoothies through the unorthodox means of riding a bike that in turn powers a smoothie-maker - and the cups for the smoothies had wellbeing branding emblazoned on them.
The company provided a raft of impressive metrics: it has saved $200,000 in Europe alone by bringing wellbeing in house rather than using consultants; its launch events received 86% uptake from staff. Since rolling the system out to staff in the UK and Nordics, it has already measured 971 days saved in staff absence in these regions.
Judges loved the strong vision, clever communication, clear goals and ongoing plans. Our panel believed in American Express's strategy and was impressed with the wellbeing links throughout the company and the wider business agenda.
Finalists
• CA Technologies
• Propellernet
Sponsored by AXA PPP Healthcare
