Business leaders know firsthand that what happens in their employees’ personal lives can have a big impact on what goes on at work. When a single mother has trouble finding quality childcare, for example, she may frequently miss work. Or, if a once-reliable employee is dealing with serious depression, he may call in sick often, or seemingly be preoccupied or distant when he’s on the job.
Situations like these are difficult for workers and their employers. Employee attendance, engagement and productivity suffer, and that affects a business’ bottom line. Throw increased healthcare expenses into the mix — something that becomes more likely when employees have unmet social or economic needs — and the overall costs to a business can be substantial.
A Digital Solution
ProMedica has partnered with Kumanu to create a new employer-focused, digital health and well-being tool, called Resourceful. This innovative solution helps employers get their employees the help they need so that both can benefit.
“The pandemic has highlighted that employees need more support than ever. The latest research reveals that a staggering 1-in-3 employed Americans are struggling with essential needs like food, housing, and financial stability,” says Anthony Goodwin, Director of Resourceful and Market Solutions at ProMedica. “Resourceful provides a way for employers to support their employees during challenging times so employees can come to work more engaged and productive.”
In development for several years and piloted at ProMedica with thousands of employees, the digital solution is now available to businesses nationwide.
How Resourceful Works
Resourceful is both convenient and confidential.
“It allows employees to get the help they need in a way that makes them feel safe and protected,” says Goodwin.
Rather than having to speak with a manager or other employee, they simply complete a five-minute assessment using the app. Here’s how the process works:
1. Via email or print materials with QR codes, employers invite employees to use Resourceful.
2. Through a confidential assessment, interested employees answer 15 or so questions that assess challenges they may be having in the following areas:
- Food access.
- Housing.
- Financial well-being.
- Childcare.
- Transportation.
- Depression.
- Eldercare.
- Internet accessibility.
- Relationship safety.
- Stress.
- Purpose.
- Resiliency.
Responses are confidential and cannot be traced to specific employees. However, those taking the assessment may skip any question that makes them uncomfortable.
3. Resourceful then provides a customized list of resource recommendations based on the employee’s assessment results. In order, the solution directs the employees to appropriate:
- Community-level resources, such as food banks or support groups, based on the employee’s zip code.
- Employer-sponsored benefits, such as employee assistance programs or financial coaches.
- Self-help information, such as videos and tip sheets that are easy to access.
Employees who choose to can create an account, so they can easily access the information at any time. But that isn’t required.
A Win-Win for All
The Resourceful solution benefits everyone: Employees get the help they need to make life easier and potentially improve their health. At the same time, employers reap the rewards of their employees’ positive feelings about the support they’ve receive at their workplace. They also benefit when employees come to work better-focused, engaged and ready to help the business thrive.
Employers gain greater insight into how they can help their employees, as well. The solution provides them with de-identified, aggregate data that shows how many employees are using Resourceful, which challenges the employees face, and which resources are accessed most often. It can potentially even help them identify where there are challenges for employees, but not necessarily good resources to assist them.
“It provides the employer an opportunity to better understand where the needs are and where their resources should be focused,” says Goodwin.
To learn more about the Resourceful solution and how it could benefit your employees and business, visit Kumanu’s website.
