London, 20 March 2006 - The Business of Health - The Health of Business, a new publication that makes the business case for workplace health interventions and corporate action on health, has been released this week by the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Health concerns such as chronic diseases, HIV/AIDS and access to healthcare are having a major impact on businesses. Business leaders know that this is a growing problem, as proven by a recent survey of chief executives in the US published in the MIT Sloan Management Review which ranked healthcare costs as their number one economic pressure.
To help companies address this issue, The Business of Health - The Health of Business profiles several workplace health programmes, providing clear lessons for businesses interested in incorporating similar schemes into their operations.
Olive Boles, Director of IBLF´s Healthy Eating & Active Living Global Partnership (HEAL) explained why businesses are increasingly setting up workplace health programmes: "This publication shows that companies that invest in health benefit from increased productivity and morale, as well as lower absenteeism and health costs."
"Health initiatives can also improve reputation and help companies find business opportunities," she added.
The case studies featured in this practical guide profile a range of projects set up by companies and organisations from various sectors, including the Dow Chemical Company, GlaxoSmithKline, InterContinental Hotels Group, Volkswagen, and Pfizer, and cover such health issues as chronic diseases, mental ill-health and HIV/AIDS.
The showcased programmes also illustrate how companies can tailor health initiatives for business benefit in the marketplace and how by working in partnership with other companies as well as local authorities and civil society businesses can address global and regional health challenges within communities.
The Business of Heath - The Health of Business is aimed at businesses and other stakeholders interested in exploring opportunities for investment in health and is intended to help inform and inspire corporate policy.
To download The Business of Heath - The Health of Business visit: www.iblf.org/heal.
For further information or to order a hardcopy please contact Jonathan Bennett at jonathan.bennett[at]iblf.org or on 44 (0)207 467 3659/00.
About IBLF
The International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) is an international non-profit organisation. Its mission is to promote responsible business leadership and partnerships for social, economic and environmentally sustainable international development, particularly in new and emerging market economies.
Supported by more than 70 of the world´s leading companies, IBLF has a track record of enabling leadership and sustainable solutions to local and global development challenges. IBLF believes that the support and engagement of the businesss sector is necessary in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, reduce global poverty and promote economic stability.
About HEAL
The Healthy Eating & Active Living Global Partnership (HEAL) is a programme of the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and aims to mobilise business as a responsible partner for health and wellness in the marketplace, workplace and community. HEAL is a multi-sector, international initiative that promotes a framework for action aligned to corporate interests and competencies. It profiles and shares good corporate health and wellness practices, and facilitates active engagement in partnership initiatives designed to help tackle the growing epidemic of obesity-related illnesses that can make systemic impact at national and international levels.
About the WBCSD
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a collation of 180 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Its members are drawn from more than 30 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. It also benefits from a global network of 50 national and regional business councils and partner organizations.
The WBCSD´s mission is to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development, and to support the business license to operate, innovate and grow in a world increasingly shaped by sustainable development issues.