of U.S. office professionals think their company prioritizes mental health less than it should.
Source: American Heart Association Survey, 2024
Promoting whole health — encompassing both physical and mental well-being — is a critical issue for employers, since people spend a significant amount of time at work, says Lee A. Shapiro, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association and managing partner and co-founder of a Chicago-based investment firm.
“The benefits provided by employers allow their team members the opportunity to live their best lives,” he says. Shapiro notes that since the pandemic, more companies are taking bold approaches to employee health and well-being.
The American Heart Association is aiding this progress with its Well-being Works BetterTM program, a comprehensive suite of resources designed to help leaders measure and improve their employee health and well-being strategies.
This work extends to areas that ultimately impact the heart — like poor mental health and chronic stress — and recognizes that employers have the potential to improve health outcomes. Our vision is to transform the health of the workforce of the U.S.”
Nancy Brown
CEO, American Heart Association
A key component of this initiative is the Well-being Works BetterTM Scorecard, a no-cost, online assessment tool. Using the scorecard is simple: Companies answer a series of questions about their policies and programs (such as: Does your organization conduct assessments to understand employee health and well-being needs? Is there a written mental health policy?), and the tool reveals the company’s ranking in wellness categories like leadership support and burnout prevention. The newly revamped scorecard (available in 2026) will provide industry-specific comparisons and assess the unique issues employers face in today’s workforce.
Adults spend a significant amount of time at work. The benefits provided by employers allow their team members the opportunity to live their best lives.”
Lee A. Shapiro
Volunteer Chair, American Heart Association
The scorecard, along with the Association’s collection of wellness toolkits and how-to guides, fulfills a need for employee-centered resources, helping companies build healthier workplaces rooted in results, Shapiro says.
