Why introduce a workplace health promotion programme?

Key Points

  • Lifestyle diseases, which are largely preventable, have a significant effect on morbidity and mortality in New Zealand.
  • Well designed workplace health promotion programmes can improve worker health, save money and increase productivity.
  • There are also non–economic benefits from workplace health programmes that impact on productivity such as improved job satisfaction, increased strength and flexibility, increased morale and job retention.
  • A mentally healthy workplace is demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on turnover and absenteeism.
  • More flexible work arrangements are associated with increased productivity.
  • Workplace health promotion programmes can assist workers to stay healthier and prevent early retirement due to lifestyle diseases.

Productivity

According to the United States of America Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, $9 billion dollars in workplace productivity in the USA is lost due to diet related conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.

Lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and smoking induced disease have a significant effect on morbidity and mortality in New Zealand, and are largely preventable through healthier eating, increased exercise and smoking cessation.

Health Snapshot of New Zealand Workers

At present a profile of adult New Zealanders, including those in the workforce, shows that:

  • 24% of men and 22% of women currently smoke.
  • More than half of all New Zealand adults are overweight or obese.
  • Half of all adults do not do the recommended minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day on at least 5 days a week.
  • I in 5 of all adults over 45 years of age reported that they had been diagnosed with heart disease.

Absenteeism

American workplace research on reduced absenteeism shows that absenteeism costs are a direct economic factor related to employee health and productivity.

Non-economic factors and productivity

Non-economic factors are a feature on which worksite health promotion programmes have an effect. Some of these effects result from increased physical activity, stress management interventions, time management interventions and general programming effects. Chapman identifies these non-economic factors in productivity-

  • Physical strength and flexibility
  • Stamina and resilience
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Decision-making quality
  • Time utilisation and planning
  • Positive attitude and outlook
  • Presenteeism
  • Job satisfaction level
  • Company loyalty
  • Recruitment and retention
  • Morale level

The extent that these non-economic factors of productivity occur is dependent on the nature and extent of the health programme.

Ageing Population

By the middle of this century one in four New Zealanders will be 65 years or over. The current figure is one in eight. Companies will become increasingly dependent on mature workers as the present skill and labour shortage continues.

Lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, smoking, stress and fatigue all have negative impacts on worker health. Diseases caused by these unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are largely preventable. Workplace health promotion programmes that effectively address health issues and provide a workplace environment supportive of health and wellbeing have the potential to improve worker productivity and keep the workforce healthier for longer.