Several major companies have joined a new national initiative aimed at strengthening workforce safety and climate resilience. Health Action Alliance launched Extreme Weather + Work with founding member companies including Google, Disney, CVS Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, Elevance Health, Sun Life, Hackensack Meridian Health, Mercer, and The Hartford. The initiative is presented by Mercer, a business of Marsh, with support from The Hartford.
The program is designed to help companies prepare for weather-related disruptions through peer-learning communities, practical employer guidance, and expert-informed resources. Health Action Alliance said the effort will support employers before, during, and after extreme weather events.
The launch addresses a widespread national need for enhanced workplace safety readiness. Polling from the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health found that more than 80% of U.S. workers experienced at least one extreme weather-related disruption on the job in the past year. Concurrently, research from Mercer found that only 4% of employers have historically assessed the extreme weather risks their workforces face.
The initiative will provide collaborative resources for leaders across HR, benefits, occupational health and safety, risk management, security, and sustainability. Employers can also access open resources such as Mercer’s Climate Health Cost Forecaster and Climate and Worker Health Scorecard, which are intended to help companies identify climate-related employee risks, estimate potential health care cost impacts, and assess their ability to reduce those risks.
“Extreme weather is becoming a persistent, year-round challenge for both employers and workers,” said David Leathers, Director of Extreme Weather + Work at Health Action Alliance. “Right now, there is a growing gap between the scale of this challenge and how prepared most companies are.”
Google Chief Medical Officer for Global Employee Health Dr. Sohini Stone said the initiative brings companies together to build a practical, evidence-based playbook that no single employer could create alone. Health Action Alliance said learnings from Extreme Weather + Work will be shared through its broader network of more than 11,000 employers.