The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Global Reporting Initiative Launch ‘A Culture of Health for Business’

PRINCETON, N.J. and AMSTERDAM, Aug. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the largest health philanthropy in the United States, today announced A Culture of Health for Business, in partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Stemming from the Culture of Health vision where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthier life, RWJF is working with GRI to improve the health and well-being of employees, families, and the communities in which they operate. The initiative was developed in response to the heightened awareness around social and human capital as a growing ESG concern, as well as the increasing adoption of ESG reporting as a means to track corporate performance and guide related decision making.

The Culture of Health for Business project serves as the basis for the partnership between RWJF and GRI. Funded by RWJF, GRI is currently hosting a stakeholder consultation for ‘A Culture of Health for Business’ and its two business tools - new business practices and guiding principles - which can enable companies to embed a Culture of Health in their organizations. In addition, companies can seek guidance through reporting on their impact by using the GRI Global Sustainability Standards (GRI Standards).

“We firmly believe that the private sector plays an integral role in the health and well-being of everyone in America, because we have seen how health and well-being can impact a company’s performance. The guiding principles and business practices outlined in A Culture of Health for Business can bolster the ‘S’ in ESG,” said Victoria Brown, senior program officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “We’re thrilled to work with GRI on this effort, given their longstanding expertise in sustainability reporting and measurement. Our organizations see an opportunity for businesses and the corporate community to provide leadership for what it means to support healthy employees, their families, and communities.”

“Companies wouldn’t exist without their employees, making human capital management a priority for the long-term success of an organization. Investing in your workforce ensures greater productivity, and therefore increased returns,” said Tim Mohin, CEO of GRI. “Around the world we work with companies large and small and want to continue empowering them to communicate their impact on critical issues, including human capital, so they can keep enabling positive change beyond the walls of the workplace. By working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we believe A Culture of Health for Business can drive an ongoing conversation around what healthy workforces and healthy communities look like.”

The 15 business practices, which focus on health, well-being and equity, have been developed based on extensive research and input from an advisory committee of experts, consisting of representatives from health, academic, non-profit and corporate backgrounds. RWJF and GRI believe that the results of A Culture of Health for Business could be used in subsequent initiatives to increase the awareness and adoption of these business practices by corporations, investors and the ESG marketplace, thus ensuring progress toward a Culture of Health.

A Culture of Health for Business tools are open for public consultation until October 12, 2018 and can be found at www.globalreporting.org/cultureofhealthforbusiness.

About The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
For more than 45 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are working alongside others to build a national Culture of Health that provides everyone in America has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.

About the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
GRI is an independent international organization that has pioneered sustainability reporting since 1997. GRI helps businesses and governments worldwide understand and communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues such as climate change, human rights, governance and social wellbeing. This enables real action to create social, environmental and economic benefits for everyone. The GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards are developed with true multi-stakeholder contributions and rooted in the public interest. For more information about GRI, visit www.globalreporting.org or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GRI_Secretariat or Facebook at www.facebook.com/GlobalReporting.

Media Contacts:
Jill Metzger
RF|Binder
(212) 994-7542
jill.metzger@rfbinder.com

Peter Paul van de Wijs
GRI, Chief Communications Officer
Tel: +31 20 531 0000 | Mobile: +31 6 2313 2463
vandewijs@globalreporting.org

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SOURCE Robert Wood Johnson Foundation