Work in Progress

HSI Employee Population Health Lab: Driving Better Outcomes

Employers spend billions each year on health benefits, wellness programs, and digital health tools — yet participation is often low, results are mixed, and credible evidence on return on investment remains scarce.

The HSI Employee Population Health Lab brings together leading MIT Sloan faculty, researchers, and employer collaborators to rigorously evaluate what works, for whom, and why. We focus on real-world settings, real employer data, and methods that move beyond anecdotes and vendor claims.

Our goal is simple: help employers turn health investments into measurable improvements in employee wellbeing and productivity.

Why This Work Matters

Rising healthcare costs, increasing prevalence of chronic disease, and growing mental health challenges are putting unprecedented pressure on employers — particularly those that self‑insure. At the same time, employers control uniquely rich data across healthcare utilization, benefits use, and workforce outcomes, yet lack neutral partners to rigorously evaluate which interventions deliver real value.

The HSI Employee Population Health Lab was created to close this gap.

We work with a consortium of employers, insurers, and benefits leaders to design and test scalable, evidence-based approaches to improving employee health. Our work emphasizes rigor, transparency, and practical relevance, combining analytics, behavioral science, and field-based experimentation to generate insights that inform real decisions.

What makes the HSI Lab different

Science over guesswork: We rely on cutting-edge analytics and randomized evaluations to test ideas in a rigorous way.

Real-world relevance: Studies are conducted in active workplaces using claims, HR, productivity, and engagement data.

Focus on mechanisms: We study not only what works, but why — to improve design, targeting, and adoption.

Independent honest broker: HSI is an unbiased research partner without conflicts of interest that might accompany vendor claims.

Actionable insights: Early findings inform employer strategy, while longer-term results contribute to the broader evidence base.

What we study

With expertise in analytics, operations, incentives, and organizational behavior, the Lab evaluates interventions that affect employee health and workforce outcomes, including:

Digital health tools, such as mental health and chronic disease management programs

New models of care delivery, including telehealth and care navigation

Incentives and benefit design, including financial, social, and behavioral nudges

Ways of working, and their health impacts

Insights from HSI Lab Events

The Lab hosts a range of events each year, including webinars and convenings with researchers, collaborators, and invited guests. These sessions provide a forum for sharing research progress, exchanging perspectives, and exploring emerging ideas.

Click on the links below to learn more.

HSI Lab Meeting 2025: Behavior, Incentives, and AI: New Frontiers in Employee Population Health

Unlocking the Value of Employee Wellness: 2025 Webinar with MIT's ILP

HSI Lab Meeting 2024: Evidence Over Hype: Testing the Real Impact of Workplace Wellness

HSI 2022 Convening Explores Thorny Workplace Mental Health Challenges