Chief financial officers have a strong understanding that employee health has an impact on a company's financial performance, and they are playing a larger role in health care benefits decisions, according to new research by nonprofit Integrated Benefits Institute.

"So many employers have downsized in this tough economy that now more than ever, it's important for employers to truly maximize the productivity of their employees," says Thomas Parry, PhD, president of IBI. "This research shows how CFOs crystallize the impact of health on financial performance and on productivity and particularly focuses on the kinds of information critical to their health-investment decisions."

The research also reveals that more than two-thirds of respondents say health is a cultural or financial priority in their organizations, and 75 percent of respondents believe providing comprehensive health coverage is important for their companies' financial strategies. Among the respondents, more than 90 percent say at minimum improving health is a moderately important contributor to work force productivity while more than 80 percent say finance professionals typically collaborate for benefits decisions with other departments, including human resources, executive leadership and operations.