Reduced Productivity Occurs as Chronic Conditions and Risk Behaviors Increase; and as Physical and Emotional Health Decreases.
Findings from a new study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggest that organizations may want to review their approaches to managing presenteeism – productivity loss from employees who are physically present at work, yet perform sub-optimally due to health problems or other barriers such as personal problems or worries. Rather than focusing exclusively on physical health, employers can more effectively influence productivity by holistically measuring presenteeism and providing actionable information focused on physical, social, and emotional health and well-being.
Presenteeism is currently estimated to cost the United States more than $150 billion annually, accounting for 71% of the total costs of lost productivity.1 This collaborative study, conducted by Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. and Healthways, developed and evaluated the Well-Being Assessment for Productivity (WBA-P) as an assessment of job performance loss due to well-being related barriers.
By surveying 1,827 employed individuals, the study confirms that the WBA-P is a valid and reliable measure of presenteeism, showing productivity loss increased significantly as the number of chronic conditions and risk factors increased and as overall physical and emotional health decreased. In addition, it shows lower productivity for those that expressed they are struggling and suffering in their life evaluation.
“While previous research has supported the negative impact absenteeism has on organizations, the Well-Being Assessment for Productivity is the first measure of presenteeism that captures a range of performance barriers related to work and ‘personal’ life, said James O. Prochaska, PhD, Founder, Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. “This study marks a critical turning point in solving the presenteeism problem, as employers are now capable of identifying, customizing treatments for, and tracking specific sources of productivity loss across business, business units, and teams.”
The WBA-P is a component of Healthways Well-Being Assessment, a measurement instrument which provides organizations information on the overall well-being of their employees as well as the impact well-being is having on the productivity of the workforce. The Well-Being Assessment allows organizations to deliver a single measure that will provide the information needed to guide well-being and performance enhancement programs and to measure their impact on employee productivity.
“These findings clearly show it is critical to consider a broader view of presenteeism and specific sources of productivity loss as part of a well-being improvement strategy,” said James E. Pope, Chief Science Officer at Healthways. “Business leaders must provide solutions that support employees in their homes, communities, and work environments in order to improve overall well-being, which in turn improves productivity and reduces costs.”
Article: “The Well-Being Assessment for Productivity; A Well-Being Approach to Presenteeism.” James O. Prochaska, PhD, Kerry E. Evers, PhD, Janet L. Johnson, PhD, Patricia H. Castle, MA, Janice M. Prochaska, PhD, Lindsay E. Sears, PhD, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD, and James E. Pope, MD; Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Published July 2011.
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1. Stewart WF, Ricca JA, Chee E, Morganstein D. Lost productive work time costs from health conditions in the United States: results from the American Productivity Audit. J Occup Environ Med. 2003; 45: 1227-1234.