Case Study: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey achieves a more engaged workforce with Achievers' Step It Up recognition platform

How Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey developed a more engaged workforce

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a long-standing insurer committed to enriching member and community health, needed a modern, enterprise-wide recognition platform to replace a manual program. Leadership wanted a social-media–friendly, automated solution that enabled peer-to-peer recognition, generated actionable HR data linking recognition to business results, and engaged a dispersed workforce across four locations.

Horizon partnered with Achievers to launch the Step It Up program for 5,000+ employees, achieving over 90% enrollment and a 97% activation rate with strong leadership participation. The platform’s everyday peer-to-peer recognitions (with manager “boosts” and points) were integrated into onboarding and company events, driving a 14% lift in recognition-related survey results, a 6% increase in overall engagement, and a final engagement score 5 percentage points above the IBM benchmark.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey