Why Employers Need a Roadmap for Employee Health and Well-Being

HERO Scorecard International Version in collaboration with Mercer

Resource Recommendation by Jessica Grossmeier, PhD, MPH

In recent years, the importance of employee health and well-being has taken center stage in workplace discussions. Recent articles in Harvard Business Review and Forbes indicate employees are expecting more meaningful well-being support from their employers.

The rise of hybrid work, global stress levels at record highs, and increased attention to social determinants of health have left many organizations asking: How can we design well-being strategies that truly work?

Employers need more than good intentions—they need evidence-based tools that show them where to start, how to prioritize investments, and how to measure success. That’s where the HERO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BEST PRACTICES SCORECARD IN COLLABORATION WITH MERCER^© (International HERO Scorecard) comes in.

Introducing the International HERO Scorecard

The HERO Scorecard has been guiding employers since its launch in 2006, with more than 3,000 organizations worldwide using it to evaluate and strengthen their health and well-being (HWB) strategies. Recognizing the global nature of today’s workforce, HERO now offers an International Version of the Scorecard, translated into 11 languages and tailored to organizations operating outside the United States.

This free, web-based resource provides a structured way for organizations to benchmark their current practices, identify opportunities for growth, and align investments in employee well-being with broader organizational goals. The Scorecard has been validated through research linking higher scores with stronger employee participation, healthier risk profiles, better medical cost trends, improved perceptions of employer support, and even stronger organizational financial performance.

What’s Inside the International HERO Scorecard?

The International HERO Scorecard covers the foundational elements that drive successful well-being programs, providing a comprehensive framework employers can use to strengthen their approach. The tool is divided into six core sections:

Strategic Planning: How well is well-being embedded into the organization’s business goals?
Organizational & Cultural Support: Does the company foster a culture that prioritizes health?
Programs: What types of health and well-being offerings are available?
Program Integration: How well are these programs aligned with other organizational initiatives?
Participation Strategies: What approaches are being used to engage employees?
Measurement & Evaluation: How is success being tracked and communicated?

In addition to these foundational areas, the HERO Scorecard also evaluates best practices across focus areas such as mental health and well-being, health equity, and social determinants of health (SDOH) —all pressing issues for today’s employers.

How to Access the International HERO Scorecard

Employers and other stakeholders can access the International HERO Scorecard for free through the HERO website. In addition to the Scorecard itself, HERO provides a range of supporting resources, including user guides, glossaries, sample reports, and progress reports that help organizations interpret and act on their results.

To get started, visit https://hero-health.org/scorecard. There, you’ll find links to the International Scorecard, user resources, and additional materials to help your organization turn insights into action.

Final Guidance

In an era when employee health and well-being are critical drivers of organizational success, tools like the International HERO Scorecard offer a roadmap for moving beyond good intentions to measurable impact. By leveraging this practical, research-backed resource, employers can make smarter investments that support healthier, more engaged, and more productive teams.

About the Developer of the Resource

The HERO Scorecard was developed by the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), in collaboration with Mercer. HERO is a national nonprofit dedicated to identifying and sharing best practices in the field of workplace health and well-being (HWB). HERO was established in 1997 to conduct and share research, policy, leadership, and strategy to advance workplace HWB and provide leadership of the nation’s workforce.

**Disclaimer**

The Recommended Resources featured on this site represent recommendations from individual initiative members. The Global Wellness Institute and the Workplace Wellbeing Initiative are not responsible for the content provided. The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect an official endorsement of the resource by the Global Wellness Institute or the Workplace Wellbeing Initiative. Readers are encouraged to contact the organization that developed the Recommended Resource for more information.