Take Home Messages:

Employees with poorer health are more likely to have impaired workplace productivity. The negative impact on productivity results from decreased efficiency while at work, rather than sickness absence.. 

Additionally, employees with diabetes are the most likely to be absent from work due to health reasons, while those with high stress levels are the most likely to be less productive whilst at work.

Why the research matters:

The health of workers has a significant impact on both workplace productivity and absences.  Therefore, indentifying the factors which have the greatest impact on an employee’s health will allow effective programs to be implemented to improve workplace efficiency.

What the research involved:

This study, conducted in the U.S.A, looked at what impact the health of employees has on workplace absences and productivity.

2264 employees of a large national employer, who were members of corporate-sponsored fitness centres, participated in the survey.  These participants completed a series of questions online to assess their health risk factors and work productivity in the last seven days. 

Eleven health risk factors were assessed:

1. Poor diet;
2. Body mass index (being underweight or overweight);
3. High cholesterol;
4. Physical inactivity;
5. Excessive stress;
6. Overdue preventive visits;
7. Lack of emotional fulfilment;
8. High blood pressure;
9. Smoking;
10. Diabetes or high blood glucose; and
11. Alcohol use

These results were then analysed.

Summary of research findings:

The study found that:

• Overall workplace productivity was more effected by decreased efficiency whilst at work (due to illness) than employee absences:

• On average, employees reported being absent for 1.8% of their working hours due to health reasons, but reported decreased productivity for 6.6% of their working hours because of health reasons;

• The more health risk factors an employee had, the more their workplace productivity was impaired and the more work they missed due to health reasons;
   
• Having diabetes was the factor most strongly associated with workplace absence:

• Employees with diabetes were over twice as likely to be absent from work due to health reasons than those without diabetes (2.285, 95% CI 1.167–4.474); and

• Having high stress levels was the factor most strongly associated with decreased workplace productivity:

• Employees who had high stress levels were twice as likely to report a decrease in workplace productivity (2.085, 95% CI 1.650–2.634).

The study concluded that employees with poorer health (and greater health risk factors) are more likely to have impaired workplace productivity.  Also, it found that different risk factors were associated with higher levels of impaired workplace productivity compared to workplace absence.

Original research:

The relationship between health risks and work productivity.

Boles M, Pelletier B, Lynch W.

J Occup Environ Med. 2004 Jul;46(7):737-45.

Link to PubMed abstract