The effects of behavioral risks on absenteeism and health-care costs in the workplace
Article Abstract:
The rising cost of health care has had a great impact on the health benefits that companies provide for their employees. In an attempt to reduce health care costs, many companies in the US have developed health promotion activities. The goal of these programs is to reduce health care costs by improving the health of the work force. Poor health leads to higher absenteeism and results in an increased cost to the company. A study was performed to identify behavioral risk factors associated with absenteeism among employees, and to evaluate the effect of these behavioral risks on company costs. Between January of 1984 and December of 1988, 45,976 employees completed a survey regarding health habits, health history, attitudes about health, and the number of work days missed due to illness. Medical records from company physicals were reviewed to obtain information on blood pressure, blood cholesterol and body weight. The cost of employee illness to the company was estimated from health-care claims and the cost of employee compensation and benefits. The following six behavioral risk factors were related to absenteeism: smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and not using seat belts. Employees with these behaviors missed more work days than employees who did not have any of these risk factors. The average illness cost per employee per year was $960 for smoking, $401 for obesity, $389 for heavy drinking, $370 for high blood cholesterol, $343 for high blood pressure, and $272 for not using seat belts. The total annual company cost of absenteeism related to these risk factors was estimated to be $70.8 million. It is concluded that company-related health promotion activities should address these risk factors in an attempt to reduce health care costs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1991
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Use of focus groups to study absenteeism due to illness
Article Abstract:
Loss of work time and production from absenteeism due to sickness is of considerable interest and importance to industry, the company, working employees and the absent worker. Many factors and reasons, excluding the actual illness of the worker, contribute to these absences, such as age, gender, personality, private and personal life concerns, working conditions, and the company payment policy for sick leave. It has been suggested that working conditions may be the most significant contributor to sick leaves. In Norway, employees are paid their full salaries for up to one year for absences due to illness. How nonmedical factors influence sick leaves was the focus of this investigation. Ten focus groups were randomly organized from different work areas of two companies with similar work assignments. The companies are the largest computer and insurance businesses in Norway. The discussions in the groups produced the following information: (1) a feeling of well-being was one of the most important factors in absenteeism; (2) work organization was a significant determinant: good organization produced greater productivity and better attendance, and poor organization yielded higher absenteeism; (3) the size of the department or work group and employee recognition were also important contributors. Female absenteeism was higher that of men, a factor attributed to women's additional responsibilities for their families. Other working and company conditions were less significant determinants. While the data obtained from the focus groups was more qualitative than quantitative, the congruence in the findings between the groups in each company as well as between companies suggests that the results are valid and may be relevant for other companies. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1991
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Physical fitness capacity and absenteeism of police officers
Article Abstract:
Employee absenteeism is major personnel problem in the US. The cost of absenteeism to companies nationwide has been estimated to be as high as $25 billion per year. Several studies have reported that employer-sponsored exercise programs that improve employee physical fitness can reduce absenteeism. However, few studies have examined the relationship between the level of physical fitness and employee absenteeism. To investigate the relationship between physical fitness and absenteeism, 514 police officers from a large metropolitan police department in a major southeastern city were studied. The overall level of physical fitness was evaluated based on percent body fat, body flexibility, sit-ups, maximum weight lifted during bench press, and performance on an exercise bicycle. Absenteeism rate was determined from payroll sick days during a one-year period. In this study, physical fitness level was a poor predictor of absenteeism. There was no relationship between overall physical fitness level and the number of missed work days. However, women under the age of 34 who were the thinnest had more missed work days than those who were heavier, and men over the age of 35 who showed the highest level of fitness on the bicycle exercise test missed fewer work days. Of the five physical fitness variables tested, percent body fat in women and cardiovascular fitness in men had the most influence on absenteeism. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1991
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Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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