5th Rhine-Ruhr Dialog: Corporate health programs in ESG reporting

At the 5th Rhine-Ruhr Dialogue on April 23, 2024, more than 40 experts from the healthcare sector and representatives from research, politics and business discussed the importance of corporate health in ESG reporting. Three keynote speeches highlighted the challenges facing the German healthcare system: Prof. Dr. Christian Hagist warned of the financial instability of statutory health insurance and emphasized the urgency of preventive measures. Prof. Dr. Ingo Froböse highlighted the increase in sick days and called for a reorientation of workplace health promotion. Theresa Winkels from Wirtschaftsförderung Düsseldorf highlighted the economic relevance of digital health and health tech.

Workshops were held to discuss how health can be strategically anchored in ESG reporting. There was agreement that a healthy corporate culture must be lived by the management level. The KPIs discussed included staff turnover rates, employee satisfaction and mandatory health training for managers. Sick days as the sole indicator were viewed critically. Although corporate health programs are not currently a mandatory part of ESG reporting, the need to anchor it more firmly was emphasized. Challenges such as a lack of resources and plannability were discussed, but also the potential to mitigate the shortage of skilled workers through targeted health measures.

The event made it clear that prevention must be seen as a task for society as a whole. Health should not be a voluntary extra, but a strategic component of sustainable corporate management. The discussion will continue - because the future of work depends largely on the health of employees.

You can find a video report on the event here: