David Osborne, CEOHealthcare costs are skyrocketing, but employees are not getting healthier. People cannot find the information and support they need, when they need it, and they are not getting the right information
The appeal of Virgin Pulse’s wellbeing platforms lies within its flexibility and breadth. Virgin Pulse’s software-as-service tools simplify the process of designing, developing, implementing, and managing various aspects of a wellbeing program – bringing together much of what employers offer employees into one easily navigated and easily digested space. Moreover, Virgin Pulse’s modern, robust wellbeing platforms handle health assessments, ongoing challenges, progress tracking, along with incentives and rewards management. The software integrates with third-party services that deliver biometrics screenings and coaching, and sync with self-directed health technologies such as tracking devices and apps. What’s more? The platform-based solution comes with a robust content management system that promotes news-breaking items and pushes targeted and customized health content covering a range of topics. Besides, the insights accumulated reveal the user’s interests, priorities, participation, and changes in behaviour.
To further illustrate the platform’s technical prowess, the following use-case can be mentioned as a reference. Virgin Pulse’s solution has helped Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)—multidisciplinary research institutions engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security— recruit 4,000 employees who have joined the organization over the past four years. And their track record of success in supporting employee health and safety through Virgin Pulse is now being used as a model by other government agencies seeking to build business cases for employee health and wellbeing programs. LANL’s two significant challenges revolved around building a case for a holistic health and wellbeing program to help employees form healthier habits, and decrease the number of safety injuries on the job. Also, LANL has a long history of investing in employee health and wellbeing. Many of these early initiatives focused on physical activity alone – a great start but often falling short of lasting behaviour change. Thus, LANL partnered with Virgin Pulse to build the case for a holistic health and wellbeing program to help employees form healthier habits, and decrease the number of safety injuries on the job. With Virgin Pulse, Los Alamos was able to provide employees with a simple technology platform they could use to build good lifestyle habits through personalization, tracking, positive feedback, and education. The health and wellness team was able to effectively communicate the new health and wellbeing offerings to employees throughout the campus with Virgin Pulse’s tailored campaign capabilities. The results have exceeded expectations, with more than 65% of employees enrolled and almost 70% of enrolled employees meet or exceed recommended levels of activity.
The future of employee wellbeing initiatives will likely include even more programs, bolstering the commitment to overall wellbeing. In the next few years, organizations will incorporate more holistic wellbeing and even non-health programs. Stress and weight management programs are also on the horizon for organizations; together with potential nutrition programs, employees can learn healthy habits that will serve them both at work and home.
