Press Release

EBRI Welcomes HERO’s Members and Research, Expanding Workplace Health Expertise

Issued by EBRI [Employee Benefit Research Institute]

Nov. 5, 2026

EBRI Welcomes HERO Members and Accepts Transfer of Assets, Combining the Expertise of Two Leading Research Organizations

Integration combines research expertise, employer perspectives and benchmarking tools to deliver actionable insights for employers, policymakers and benefits professionals

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) announced today that it has welcomed members of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) and accepted the transfer of HERO’s assets, combining the capabilities of two leading research organizations to deliver a more comprehensive understanding of employee benefits and workplace health and well-being.

The integration brings together EBRI’s expertise in retirement and financial security, employment-based health benefit design and health care costs with HERO’s workplace health and well-being research and benchmarking tools. These added capabilities position EBRI to expand its research agenda and connect independent evidence with employer experience, helping inform decisions about employee benefits, workplace health and financial security for millions of workers and their families.

“Over the past two years, EBRI has grown organically by attracting new members and expanding our research across health, wealth and the connections between them,” said Barb Marder, president and CEO of EBRI. “Bringing HERO’s research expertise, tools and community into EBRI marks a significant next step in that growth. We are expanding both the scope of our research and our ability to connect evidence with employers’ firsthand experience. This combination will help us address pressing workplace challenges and deliver actionable insights for employers, policymakers and benefits professionals.”

HERO also brings a longstanding record of peer-reviewed research, supported by sponsors and research partners, that has helped inform workplace health and well-being practices and deepen understanding of the relationships among employee health, health care costs and organizational performance.

HERO’s tools include the HERO Health and Well-being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Marsh, which helps employers assess their workplace health and well-being practices and benchmark them against those of other organizations. HERO also partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to create the HERO Worker Well-being Clearinghouse Powered by the NIOSH WellBQ, which houses de-identified data collected using the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire. This resource helps researchers, employers and policymakers better understand worker well-being and identify opportunities for improvement. HERO’s events bring together employers and practitioners to identify emerging concerns, challenges in program implementation and employee engagement, and opportunities for further study.

For HERO members, the integration creates opportunities to engage with EBRI’s research on employment-based health benefits, retirement, financial well-being and the intersection of health and wealth. EBRI members will benefit from HERO’s strong employer networks, practical experience and best practices for implementing and evaluating workplace programs.

“HERO’s strength comes from a community of employers, researchers and practitioners who learn from one another and contribute to the science and practice of workplace health and well-being,” said Karen Moseley, president and CEO of HERO. “Bringing that community and expertise to EBRI gives our work a broader platform and our collective members new opportunities to contribute and learn. Together, we can connect research findings with real-world employer experience more closely to extend the reach of the insights we develop.”

Research partners and sponsors of both organizations, as well as the broader industry, will benefit from opportunities to share findings through the organizations’ combined networks, publications, events and educational programs, reaching additional employers and other stakeholders.

With HERO’s research and tools becoming part of EBRI, the institute is broadening its capacity to examine how workplace health, benefits and financial security intersect. Members, partners and sponsors will have more opportunities to contribute to research and share insights across these areas. This expanded capacity reinforces EBRI’s role as a source of independent, objective and nonpartisan evidence that helps employers, policymakers and benefits professionals make informed decisions affecting workers and their families.

About HERO

The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to discovering and promoting evidence-based practices that improve the health and well-being of employees, families and communities. Since 1996, HERO has served as a collaborative learning hub for researchers, employer leaders and consultants who believe in the value of people-first workplaces. For more information, visit www.ebri.org/health/hero.

About EBRI

The Employee Benefit Research Institute is a nationally respected nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that has provided independent, objective and fact-based research on employee benefits and financial security since 1978. EBRI combines large-scale administrative databases, nationally recognized surveys, advanced modeling and collaborative research centers to examine retirement security, health benefits and financial well-being. Its research and educational programs bring together employers, policymakers, benefits professionals, financial services organizations, researchers and other stakeholders seeking objective evidence to support informed policy, benefit design and business decisions. EBRI does not lobby or advocate for specific policy outcomes. For more information, visit www.ebri.org.

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