In today’s interconnected world, the health of our communities is directly linked to the strength of our economy. Business leaders who build bridges with public health leaders position themselves to improve employee well-being and drive long-term growth. 

Meanwhile, the recent mass layoffs in the federal public health workforce highlight the need for continued support and collaboration between business leaders and local public health officials to ensure resilience and an effective response in times of crisis.

In recognition of National Public Health Week, we are sharing three reasons why collaboration between business and public health is key, plus 10 ways to strengthen those partnerships.

The Case for Collaboration

Public health and business leaders share a common goal: improving health outcomes. By partnering, businesses can leverage public health strategies that enhance individual and community health, which in turn fuels economic growth. 

For businesses, the benefits are clear:

• ‍Improved employee health: A healthier workforce leads to increased job satisfaction, productivity, and engagement.‍
• Attraction of top talent: A strong health-focused corporate reputation helps attract and retain the best employees.‍
• Cost savings: Businesses can reduce absenteeism and health care costs while improving employee morale.
  

10 Ways To Strengthen Public Health Partnerships

1. Understand the Local Landscape: Familiarize yourself with key local health organizations and leaders to find synergies and avoid duplicating efforts.
   
2. Target Shared Goals: Identify what health outcomes you want to improve and ensure that public health leaders share those objectives.‍
3. Recruit a Trustworthy Leader: Appoint a leader who can navigate complex relationships and build trust across sectors.‍
4. Focus on Quick Wins: Begin with simple initiatives that can deliver immediate, visible benefits to both sides.‍
5. Measure Success: Set clear, measurable metrics for success, so you can track progress and adjust strategies as needed.‍
6. Use Strategic Communications: Share your partnership’s successes and lessons learned through a variety of media to inspire others.‍
7. Distribute Case Studies: Showcase successful partnerships to demonstrate their impact and encourage replication.‍
8. Encourage Recognition: Publicly celebrate effective collaborations to inspire others and create momentum.‍
9. Engage Outside Stakeholders: Work with national or regional entities that can offer resources, insights, and recognition for your partnership.‍
10. Propose Shared Investments: Seek philanthropic support to fund demonstration projects that test innovative models, benefiting both public health and business.
    

The Path Forward

By strengthening collaboration with public health, business leaders improve their bottom line and contribute to their communities' health and prosperity. Now is the time for businesses to work hand-in-hand with public health institutions to build a stronger, healthier future.

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PulseCheck: How Resilient Is Your Business?

From pandemics and chronic disease to extreme heat and misinformation, public health threats are growing — and so is the pressure on businesses. These disruptions can drain productivity, drive up health care costs, and put your operations, talent pipeline, and reputation at risk.

As deep federal cuts take effect, employers must fill the gap to protect business continuity and workforce health and safety.

Our 15-question scorecard can help you quickly assess your organization's resilience to public health shocks.

• It takes just 5 minutes
• It's completely free
• You'll receive customized results instantly

Benchmark how well your company is protecting employee and community health — and uncover where you may be vulnerable.

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