Vol. 3.2 Q2 2008
An Occupational and Environmental Health Network Publication
Presenteeism is the next area of focus as companies seek to maximize their investment in human capital by improving productivity and promoting employee health and wellness.
Innovative and forward-thinking companies are studying the next component in the productivity equation. It's known as presenteeism, or the loss in productivity that occurs when workers are on the job, but not performing their best.
Historically, absenteeism--tracking and managing the incidents of planned and unplanned employee absences--has been a major focus for many employers. But what about the employee who is at work but not fully functioning? What causes presenteeism? How do employers identify and intervene to help their employees achieve optimal productivity?
Looking at presenteeism, the focus shifts to the employee who is not performing at his or her best due to outside factors that include chronic or episodic illness, distraction from family care needs, personal problems or other concerns.
In an issue of The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a team of researchers analyzed information from a medical database of 375,000 employees in the United States as well as five productivity surveys on 10 common health conditions, like hypertension and diabetes. The researchers, primarily from the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at Cornell University and the health-information company Medstat, found that as much as 60 percent of the total cost of worker illness stems from ''on-the-job productivity losses'' -- exceeding what companies spend on medical and disability benefits and sick days. The biggest productivity drains, according to the study, are relatively benign ailments like headaches, allergies and arthritis. Another recent study, conducted by Walter Stewart, a health researcher, calculated that presenteeism costs American businesses more than $150 billion per year in decreased productivity
To learn more about our workplace Presenteeism solutions contact OEHN at 508.251.7260 or visit our website: www.OEHN.net
(This article includes excerpts from :
Risk & Insurance, March, 2004 by Marybeth Stevens;
Presenteeism by JASON ZENGERLE Published: December 12, 2004)
Other Medical Director Report Articles You May Be Interested In:
Who are we? OEHN delivers premier onsite Medical Director leadership and program oversight for employee and occupational health departments across the country. OEHN is supported by a team of Board Certified Occupational Health physicians, program management staff, project managers and consultants. Its network of twelve hospital clinics and a local, regional, and national network of occupational medicine resources provide labor unions, organizations, hospitals, disability management providers, and the government with a comprehensive portfolio of occupational medicine solutions.
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