The American Heart Association recently hosted the first annual Health Equity in the Workforce Leadership Summit, with representatives from several local businesses in attendance. The primary objective of the event was to facilitate the sharing of information among different companies to help leaders better understand their employees’ various needs.
Tiffany Gholston, board chair of the American Heart Association of the Triangle, emphasized that many employers desire to take action but may struggle with knowing where to begin. Companies such as Deloitte, IBM, Lenovo, and Advanced Auto Parts were represented among the speakers at the summit. Additionally, faculty members from Duke University and North Carolina State University were present to address the challenges faced by recent graduates entering the local workforce.
Gholston stressed the importance of recognizing that healthcare needs are individualized rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. She emphasized that since employees spend a significant amount of time at work, employers play a crucial role in providing them with the necessary tools and resources to support their health. By bringing together employers in the Triangle area, the summit aimed to encourage ongoing communication and action among businesses to ensure that employees have access to appropriate resources.
In reflecting on the significance of the event, Gholston noted that while health equity has been a focus for many years, it was brought even more prominently into discussion due to the experiences of COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis highlighted issues such as mental health in the workplace and meeting employees’ needs effectively. By hosting this summit, Gholston hopes to explore strategies for enhancing resource provision for employees.
Overall, this event serves as an important reminder that addressing health equity is not only about improving outcomes but also about creating a more inclusive workplace culture. Employers must recognize that each employee has unique needs when it comes to their health and wellbeing and take actionable steps towards providing them with adequate resources and support.
