Creating Standardized Metrics and Benchmarking for Health,Absence and Productivity Management Programs: The EMPAQ Initiative

Abstract

Prudent feedback from employer surveys has indicated that standardized metrics and integrated decision-support tools are essential for identifying opportunities to improve programs and reinforce a culture of health and productivity. This article reports on an innovative, nationally standardized metric and benchmarking initiative that provides employers with practical workplace tools and solutions to evaluate the effectiveness of their company’s health, absence and productivity management programs, including workers’ compensation, family and medical leave, disability, incidental absence, employee assistance programs and group health. The initiative, titled EMPAQ (Employer Measures of Productivity, Absence and Quality), was created in 2001 by the National Business Group on Health’s Council on Employee Health and Productivity (CEHP). EMPAQ was successfully launched and implemented by many major companies nationwide in 2003. EMPAQ data collection, analysis and reporting are performed through a partnership with the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center (UM-HMRC). To date, more than 1,600 employers from 21 U.S. industry sectors have submitted more than 30,000 standardized data sets, including industry-level detail and demographic data, for benefit program benchmarking and analysis. The development of EMPAQ standardized metrics has helped employers bring data to life and served as an industry-wide tool for change in how benefit programs are designed, delivered and measured.