The 2025 IBI/The Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

07:15 AM - 08:00 AM CT

Continental Breakfast

Hosted by:
MetLife

08:00 AM - 08:40 AM CT

Mental Health and Well-being in Call Center Environments

Join us for a deep dive into the mental health challenges facing call center employees. This data-driven session explores how gender, income, job role, and work model impact well-being—and why traditional wellness programs often miss the mark. Hear directly from leading Employee Benefit professionals as they share real-world challenges and innovative strategies for supporting diverse employee needs. Attendees will gain actionable insights and frameworks to build more equitable, targeted mental health programs that truly resonate across the workforce.

08:40 AM - 09:20 AM CT

Innovative Strategies to Manage High-cost Claimants at Risk

As medical and pharmacy experience near double-digit growth, what can employers do to mitigate future increases? This panel will discuss innovative strategies employers are adopting to manage high-cost claimants and reduce budget volatility, including ways in which organizations are:

• Using AI and machine learning to predict emerging risks
• Implementing cutting-edge clinical strategies and solutions to tackle high cost spend
• Collaborating with vendor partners to optimize existing care management programs to better serve members

09:20 AM - 10:00 AM CT

Resilience in Action: Practical Strategies for a Healthier Workforce

Today’s workforce is navigating a unique set of challenges – new technologies, shifting workplace dynamics, and rising expectations. These rapid changes can fuel stress and uncertainty, leaving employees feeling disconnected and overwhelmed. This session will explore how leading companies are tackling these challenges and strengthening employee wellbeing in an increasingly complex work environment. From building psychological safety to equipping managers with the skills to navigate tough conversations and support teams under pressure, you’ll gain actionable insights to keep your workforce productive, engaged, and resilient in the face of any challenge.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM CT

Refreshment Break

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Numbers Don’t Lie: Real-World Heart Health Savings for Employers

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading driver of employer health care costs – but how much of that spend is preventable? New third-party analyses and peer-reviewed research confirm that proactive heart health management doesn’t just improve clinical outcomes – it delivers significant, measurable cost savings. In this session, we’ll share real-world results from large employers who have reduced high-cost CVD claims. This discussion will highlight:

• How digital engagement reduces ER visits, hospitalizations, and costly interventions
• Case studies proving that better CVD management translates to lower health care spend
• Practical strategies for implementing evidence-based solutions in your benefits plan

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Are You Wasting GLP-1 Spend? How to Optimize Your Investments

GLP-1s are here to stay. While they aren’t the magic pill for weight loss that media and marketing campaigns often portray, they can deliver promising results when used appropriately. The question benefits leaders now face is, “How can we achieve the most, and lasting, impact from our GLP-1 investments?” During this session peers and industry leaders will share what you can do to avoid wasted spend and how to optimize the value of GLP-1s when taken.

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Manager Enablement in Employee Mental Health

A recent study found that managers have more impact on employee mental health than a therapist or doctor – and equal to that of a spouse. Frontline leaders often serve as the first point of contact for struggling employees but may lack the tools to respond effectively. This session explores strategies to empower managers to support their teams, foster open conversations, and create a culture of empathy and care. Attend this session and learn:

• How equipping managers with the right training and resources can normalize mental health conversations and foster a more empathetic workplace culture
• Tools and training programs to help managers recognize and respond to mental health challenges
• The role of empathetic leadership in fostering a mentally healthy workplace culture

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Addressing the Avoidable Costs of Digestive Health in Disperse National Workforce

Digestive health is complex, and the current system isn’t structured to diagnose or treat this condition category well – driving high avoidable costs and a toll on employee productivity and absenteeism. Average wait times for GI consultants can be months in rural areas – but symptoms don't wait. With a dispersed national workforce of workers in the field, Rentokil evaluated its GI needs and prioritized providing and communicating more effective GI care to accelerate the speed to access, diagnosis, outcomes, and savings.

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

The N=1 Paradigm: Revolutionizing Employee Benefits Through Precision Analytics

Imagine a health partner powered by AI, understanding your unique needs and delivering tailored support, motivation, and education. The N=1 platform makes this a reality, further personalizing the experience with right-sized rewards to drive action. Learn how a major employer leverages this technology to analyze individual and population data, proactively connecting employees with relevant benefits and interventions, ultimately boosting engagement in their existing benefits strategy, one person at a time.

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

The Hidden Cost of Pain

Employees who experience pain on a regular basis have to manage their symptoms day and night. Pain affects the workforce beyond high-cost claims. During this session, United Airlines and 3M will discuss how chronic pain not only produces high cost and recurring claims, but can compromise retention attendance, productivity and even morale.

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

The Budget Optimizer's Playbook: Maximizing Benefits Impact in Resource-Constrained Environments

Economic pressures require strategic benefits approaches without sacrificing effectiveness. Discover how Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) can transform underutilized programs into flexible, cost-effective benefits rather than requiring new budget. Learn to conduct comprehensive benefits audits that identify consolidation opportunities and hidden costs. Walk away with strategies for reallocating resources from fragmented solutions to flexible frameworks, plus a methodology for presenting benefits optimization to leadership as an investment in organizational resilience.

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

Redefining Midlife Wellness: How Menopause Support Extends Careers and Boosts Productivity

With global productivity losses due to menopause topping $150B annually, benefits leaders see the urgent need to provide better support. But what does effective menopause and midlife health care actually look like? Join this session and learn how to build comprehensive menopause support for your employees. We’ll look beyond basic solutions into truly holistic approaches that address every aspect of an employee’s midlife health, from clinical care to emotional support. The impact of providing this care extends beyond health outcomes – it can also improve productivity, extend employees’ career spans, and drive long-term ROI. During this session, you’ll learn:

• The challenges faced by employees navigating menopause and midlife health
• What leading global companies are doing to prioritize menopause support
• The impact of comprehensive support on health and workplace outcomes

12:05 PM - 01:15 PM CT

Luncheon

Hosted by:
Ovia Health

01:15 PM - 01:55 PM CT

Building a Wellbeing or Mental Health Champion Program: Lessons Learned from Large-Scale Implementations

As you think about supporting the well-being of your employee population, will creating roles like “Champions” and “Advocates” help or hurt your goals? The answer may not be as obvious as it seems. In this session, we will cover best practices for implementing these programs, potential pitfalls, and situations where alternative options may produce better outcomes.

02:10 PM - 02:50 PM CT

Unlocking the Power of Strategic Benefits Communication

Go behind the scenes with a large employer for a look at the innovative benefits communications strategies they developed to encourage employee engagement and satisfaction. This session will provide actionable strategies for enhancing employee wellbeing and engagement, as well as valuable insights on:

• How to achieve higher enrollment rates and better-informed employees
• A look at the compelling recruiting techniques used to attract top talent
• The impact of communications on employee financial wellbeing

02:10 PM - 02:50 PM CT

Future-Proofing Your Workforce: Fertility and Hormonal Health Benefits That Deliver

As fertility and hormonal health benefits gain traction, employers are seeking solutions that go beyond cost coverage to drive real impact. With the right approach, these benefits can improve employee satisfaction, enhance productivity, and reduce high-cost claims. This session will explore how personalized care, proactive plan design, and holistic support –spanning fertility, menopause, and low T – can help organizations build a more resilient, competitive workforce. Attendees will leave with insights on aligning benefits strategy with business goals to maximize ROI.

02:10 PM - 02:50 PM CT

Behavioral Science at Scale: Optimizing Workforce Health and Productivity Through Personalized Digital Solutions

In today's dynamic work environment, optimizing workforce health and productivity requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and behavioral wellbeing. In this discussion, you will learn how evidence-based behavioral science, and personalized digital technology drive sustainable improvements. By preventing and managing chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes through behavioral interventions, you’ll learn how you can reduce health care costs and improve medication adherence. This session will provide actionable insights that can be integrated into existing workforce health strategies to achieve significant and measurable improvements in employee wellbeing and organizational productivity.

02:10 PM - 02:50 PM CT

The Impact of Bereavement on Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Work Functioning of Parents

Bereavement following the death of a child with a chronic illness is known to affect parents' mental and physical health, as well as their productivity. However, grief over time remains understudied, making it difficult to measure the long-term impact of grief on bereaved parents, and their needs for bereavement leave. This study assessed the long-term effects of bereavement on HRQoL, work productivity, and social connection in parents whose children died from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1.

02:50 PM - 03:20 PM CT

Refreshment Break

03:20 PM - 04:00 PM CT

Leading Through Crisis and Change: Strategies for Fostering Employee Mental Health and Wellbeing

Join industry leaders to discuss the impact of crisis and change on workforce health and learn effective approaches on how you can prepare, respond, and support your employees’ mental health and well-being during times of uncertainty. You’ll learn about the impact of uncertainty on mental and physical health, gain insight on how to proactively prepare your workforce to deal with crisis situations before they occur, and discover response strategies that can help support workforce mental health during and after critical events.

03:20 PM - 04:00 PM CT

The Art of Health Plan Mixology: IDEXX’s Winning Recipe

Many employers struggle to provide high-quality, affordable health care for a diverse workforce with varying needs. IDEXX addressed this challenge by implementing an alternative health plan tailored to a nationally distributed employee base, including frontline workers, frequent travelers, and those with non-traditional schedules. Learn how they achieved an 88% member satisfaction rate and made health care more affordable for 80% of their employees. Attendees will gain insights into the decision-making process, implementation tips, and measurement approaches used to assess the impact of this new plan on employee health and productivity.

03:20 PM - 04:00 PM CT

Two Truths & a Lie: The Future of Plan Designs and the Role of Virtual Care

As businesses continue to adapt to evolving work environments, employee health care plans must also evolve to address the changing needs of the workforce. In the face of growing challenges like rising health care costs and limited access to care, virtual care has emerged as a key solution. Hear insights from a panel of benefits professionals who have grappled with solving barriers to care in order to improve wellbeing and productivity.

03:20 PM - 04:00 PM CT

How to Manage Cost While Improving the Employee Experience with Value-Based Care

As health care costs rise and access to quality care remains uneven, employers are seeking smarter, more sustainable solutions. This session explores how one employer adopted a value-based care model that prioritizes outcomes and the employee experience — offering access to top physicians’ care and concierge-level support without inflating company costs and burdening employees. Learn how this shift is not only improving employee satisfaction and health, but also drives productivity, retention, and measurable cost savings.

04:15 PM - 04:30 PM CT

From Vision to Venture: Why It All Began – Celebrating 30 Years of IBI

Join Tom Parry, Ph.D., co-founder and long-time president of Integrated Benefits Institute, as he shares the inspiration behind starting the organization. Discover the values, vision, and pivotal moments that shaped its journey—from idea to impact—in this candid and inspiring conversation.

04:30 PM - 05:00 PM CT

Innovators Showcase

Join us for a fun and lively interaction with innovative vendors and learn about new and innovative products and services designed to improve your employees’ health and wellbeing and reduce your health care spend. Each will have 3 minutes to pitch their product or service with Q&A, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking following the pitches. You’ll hear from:
AliveCor
Function Health
GoalAI
Juno
Personify Health

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM CT

Cocktail Reception

Hosted by:
AliveCor
Aon
ComPsych
Function Health
GoalAI
Juno Kids
Lincoln Financial
Lyra
Personify Health
Spring Health

07:45 AM - 08:30 AM CT

Continental Breakfast

Hosted by:
MetLife

08:30 AM - 09:10 AM CT

From Cost to Competitive Advantage: Demonstrate True ROI You Can Depend on With Your Mental Health Solution

HR and benefits leaders see the impact that investing in mental health can have on employees. But how can you educate your organization’s leaders that this is a strategic investment with business outcomes? And, once that investment is made, how can you show the ROI? In this session, Wellstar will give you an insider’s look on how they’ve transformed mental health from a cost center to a true solution that drives value for their people and their bottom line.

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Can You Really Optimize Costs and Experience? Getting Maximum Value from Your Benefits Ecosystem

Many organizations are facing what feels like a forced choice – reduce costs or deliver a better employee experience. But what if you could achieve both? The growing complexity around choice, multiple providers and varied experiences is profound. Employers spent an additional ~20% on employee programs since 2020, adding more solutions and more systems, yet utilization often averages less than 10%. Similarly, only 52% of employees say they have a good understanding of their total rewards, which leads to an impact gap in the outcomes realized versus the investment made. In this interactive session, we’ll explore one organization’s roadmap to help you unlock maximum value from your benefits ecosystem investments AND enhance the employee experience. You’ll hear real-world strategies for optimizing employee engagement in wellbeing and demonstrating measurable ROI/VOI amidst evolving market pressures.

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Metro Nashville Public Schools: Fixing the Silent GI Crisis to Reduce Absenteeism and Boost Productivity

Digestive issues like IBS and GERD silently impact millions – and they’re taking a toll on employee productivity, absenteeism, and costs. Metro Nashville Public Schools took proactive steps to support employees with chronic GI conditions, resulting in:

• 17% decrease in employee sick days
• 5:1 ROI, validated by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• 78 Net Promoter Score

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Moderate Needs, Massive Impact: Why Therapy-Directed Benefits Fall Short

Most employees aren’t in crisis—but they aren’t thriving either. This “moderate needs” group, grappling with stress, anxiety, and burnout, represents the silent majority of today’s workforce. Too often overlooked in benefit design, they drive the greatest share of productivity loss, turnover risk, and hidden health care costs. The challenge? Most mental health programs still rely on therapy-first or one-size-fits-all approaches. These models miss the moderate-needs population, leading to low engagement, wasted spend, and limited impact. Backed by claims-based ROI data and clinical outcomes, this session makes the business and human case for rethinking how employers approach workforce mental health.

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Employer-Based Health Insurance: Experiences of Employees with Chronic Diseases

Discussions around insurance design policy, including employer-based coverage, usually center around ‘average’ patients. However, no worker is average, and there may be gaps in workers’ knowledge of their health plan choices, as well as their ability to access and navigate care, especially for patients with chronic disease, who often are more vulnerable than others to burdens related to out-of-pocket costs, health care affordability, and cost-sharing. This panel will discuss findings from recent quantitative and qualitative research, including late breaking new data regarding mental health coverage, as well as actionable strategies for employers to better help employees and their families with chronic disease.

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM CT

Redesigning a Leave Program That Works for Everyone

Leave programs can either overwhelm your team or support your culture of care. This session will take a deep dive into how Banc of California modernized their leave processes to improve compliance, reduce manual work, and meet employee expectations. From clearer documentation to smoother return-to-work transitions, they’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and how HR leaders can make meaningful change without adding more to their plate.

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM CT

The Business Case for Caregiving: Lowering Costs with Meaningful Support

Your employees are facing hidden battles – caring for aging parents, managing chronic conditions, and juggling family responsibilities alongside their roles at work. Supporting them requires more than policies; it takes a commitment to strengthening a culture of care. In this session learn how Shaw Industries reinforced its people-first approach to deliver meaningful support and boost benefits adoption. You’ll hear how they made caregiver support a business priority and built internal alignment to launch paid parental leave. Learn how how investing in caregiver support isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a strategy that drives retention, productivity, and long-term business results.

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM CT

The Hidden Cost of Grief: Supporting Employees Through Life’s Hardest Moments

Grief is an often-overlooked factor in workforce wellbeing—yet its impact on productivity, engagement, and retention is profound. This session explores how forward-thinking employers are reimagining their benefits strategy to better support employees in the wake of personal loss. Drawing on new data and workforce insights, we’ll explore how organizations can close the care gap, build cultures of compassion, and drive measurable impact on loyalty, absenteeism, and overall workforce performance.

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM CT

Why Personalization and Aspiration Aren’t Enough for Workplace Wellbeing

Wellbeing personalization is powerful – but without alignment, it’s incomplete. In this session, a large employer will share how they successfully used alignment to their advantage by developing a strategy centered on organizational identity, achievable employee behaviors, and individual readiness for change. Backed by fresh research from our client community, it explores how aligning wellbeing with culture and values — rather than just individuals — builds trust, boosts activation, and drives meaningful business impact. If your wellbeing strategy feels disconnected or underperforming, this conversation will reshape how you think and what you do next.

10:50 AM - 11:20 AM CT

Refreshment Break

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM CT

Why Sleep, Why Now: Gray Media’s Case for a Sleep Benefit

Poor sleep is a leading driver of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression—conditions that account for the majority of employer health care spend. Traditional wellness programs often miss this root cause. This session will examine why Gray Media chose to address sleep directly, recognizing its impact on health care costs, productivity, and long-term employee health. We will share the business rationale behind their decision, early lessons from implementation, and how a sleep benefit can be a strategic lever to reduce costs and improve workforce health at scale.

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM CT

Addressing Population Health Needs: How BNSF Ensures Access to Quality Health Care for a National Workforce

National companies like Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) face unique challenges in ensuring equitable health care access for their employes. With a workforce spanning across rural and urban areas, and from corporate offices to the field, BNSF has learned how to design benefits that engage this dynamic workforce, improve health care outcomes, and drive smarter utilization. In this session, you’ll learn best practices for tailoring benefits to different work environments, effective communication strategies, and how to reach employees – no matter where they live and work.

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM CT

Rethinking GLP-1s: Can Precision Care Reduce the Need for High-Cost Medications?

GLP-1s have reshaped how we address obesity and metabolic disease, but rising costs are forcing employers to reevaluate long-term strategies. As demand surges, benefits leaders must find ways to improve outcomes without unsustainable spending. This session explores how digital twin technology and personalized clinical care can help reduce dependence on expensive medications by predicting risk, enabling earlier intervention, and reversing chronic conditions. During this session, peers and industry leaders will share how they’re integrating GLP-1s when appropriate — while shifting toward scalable, data-driven models that improve overall health and manage total cost.

12:10 PM - 12:30 PM CT

Conference Wrap-Up & Prizes

Recapping key conference topics and themes, this wrap-up session will bring major conference takeaways to life, providing you with a summary of all key-takeaways. You’ll have the chance to win prizes.