The U.S. economic engine runs on the health of its workforce. Yet, for all the talk about GDP growth and global competitiveness, we ignore the role of public health in sustaining economic vitality.
It's time to change that. U.S. employers should become central players in the public health system, not just passive beneficiaries. The CDC, NIH, and FDA set national standards, while state and local health departments carry out the day-to-day work. But it's employers that can help bridge the gap between policy and practice.
State and local health departments are best positioned to lead the charge on worker health. These agencies, which often date back a century or more, are deeply embedded in their communities and have built robust networks. That gives them a granular understanding of local health challenges and what the priorities should be.
U.S. employers should become central players in the public health system, not just passive beneficiaries.
By teaming up with local employers, health departments can deliver disease education, prevention, and screening programs to wide swaths of a community. That not only improves local health outcomes but also ensures business continuity.
Consider too the value in having the largest private-sector employers—think Walmart, Target, Amazon—invested in thinking about public health. These companies are well-positioned to incentivize health departments to collaborate across state lines on issues like flu outbreaks, chronic disease management, or mental health support. Coordinated interventions could quickly reach millions of American workers, and by extension their households. The result? Fewer sick days, lower health care costs, and a workforce that's ready to compete.
Employers want to keep their workers healthy. By some estimates, absenteeism and “presenteeism” (working while sick) cost U.S. employers upward of $500 billion in lost productivity annually. Hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and pharmaceuticals are expensive, driving up the cost of employer-supplied benefits too.
Health departments, for their part, could gain direct access to populations that might otherwise be difficult to reach. The result is a win-win-win: a healthier community, more resilient workforce, and a more productive economy overall.
To realize this vision, though, employers have to be true partners in public health—not just passive recipients of guidance. That means being involved in the design of public health initiatives and contributing to funding, especially at the state and local levels where resources are often stretched thin. It's not enough for companies to offer wellness programs or flu shots; they should also bring their operations, analysis, and strategy expertise to bear.
It's not enough for companies to offer wellness programs or flu shots; they should also bring their operations, analysis, and strategy expertise to bear.
This approach requires a significant mindset shift. Public health has traditionally been seen as a government responsibility, but in an era of rising health challenges, it's time to recognize that the private sector has both a stake and a role in keeping Americans healthy. Employers are already investing billions in employee health benefits. By channeling some of that investment into public-private partnerships, they can help build more robust, responsive public health systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the economic costs of a sick workforce and the vulnerabilities in our public health infrastructure. As policymakers look to the future, they should look for ways to forge stronger ties between health departments and employers. Doing so will safeguard public health and strengthen the foundation of America's economic prosperity.
