NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2013--
Findings from a new peer-reviewed study of 20,000 American workers
suggests employers can maximize their employees’ job performance and
reduce absenteeism by using a multi-pronged, integrated approach to
well-being improvement. The study published today in the Journal
of Occupational and Environmental Medicine demonstrates that
employers seeking to improve worker productivity and reduce absenteeism
should employ broad work-site based interventions encompassing employee
health management and engagement strategies.
A team of researchers from the Health Enhancement Research Organization
(HERO), Brigham Young University and the Center for Health Research at
Healthways finds better job performance and lower absenteeism for those
workers who ate healthy and exercised on a regular basis. Absenteeism
for those workers was 27% lower. Key job performance findings include:
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Workers who ate healthy the entire day were 25% more likely to have
higher job performance.
-
Workers who ate five or more servings of fruit and vegetables on four
or more days in the past week were 20% more likely to have higher job
performance.
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Workers who exercised for 30 or more minutes on three or more days a
week were 15% more likely to have higher job performance.
Results indicate that while physical health and health risk are an
important determinant of whether an individual shows up for work, the
work environment itself is an important determinant of on-the-job
performance. Thus, employers interested in truly bolstering the
performance of their workforce should focus on multiple aspects of
workers’ well-being.
“This latest study investigating the link between employee health,
performance and productivity reinforces the business case for employers
to provide comprehensive, evidence-based health management programs for
their workforce,” said Jerry Noyce, president and CEO of HERO.
This study provides an extensive look at obesity’s impact on job
performance:
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Job performance was 11% higher among those workers who were not obese.
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Workers with well-managed chronic diseases experience higher
productivity than individuals without chronic disease who are obese
and do not exercise.
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Obese workers and those with a history of chronic disease and
conditions related to pain and activity limitations were also more
likely to have recurring absenteeism.
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Obese workers experienced lower job performance and higher
absenteeism, compared to workers with depression and other chronic
diseases or conditions.
“More employers are defining individual well-being through the
performance and productivity of their workforce,” said Carter
Coberley, vice president, Health Research and Outcomes at Healthways.
“Well-being is gaining recognition as an important measure that relates
both to the quality of life of individuals as well as to financial
measures that are important to business and government leaders.
Well-being can also serve as an important business success metric
through its demonstrated relationship to employee absence and job
performance as measured in multiple large employers.”
Analyses are based on data from three geographically-dispersed U.S.
companies, representing 20,114 employees who completed a work-related
survey each year from 2008 through 2010.
About Healthways
Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) is the largest independent global provider of
well-being improvement solutions. Dedicated to creating a healthier
world one person at a time, the Company uses the science of behavior
change to produce and measure positive change in well-being for our
customers, which include employers, integrated health systems,
hospitals, physicians, health plans, communities and government
entities. We provide highly specific and personalized support for each
individual and their team of experts to optimize each participant’s
health and productivity and to reduce health-related costs. Results are
achieved by addressing longitudinal health risks and care needs of
everyone in a given population. The Company has scaled its proprietary
technology infrastructure and delivery capabilities developed over 30
years and now serves approximately 40 million people on four continents.
Learn more at www.healthways.com.
About the Health Enhancement Research Organization
The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) is a non-profit
corporation dedicated to the creation and dissemination of employee
health management research, education, policy, strategy and leadership.
To learn more, visit http://www.the-hero.org.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130107006882/en/
Source: Healthways
Healthways
Kelly Motley, 615-614-4984
kelly.motley@healthways.com
or
HERO
Barb
Tabor, 651-450-1342
barbara.tabor@the-hero.org
