So your employees may be at work, looking busy, but are they being productive? Are they working to their full potential? Many companies are focusing more and more on increasing workplace productivity through corporate wellness interventions.
Presenteeism has been defined as being present at work despite being ill and it is estimated that productivity losses due to presenteeism are significantly higher than losses incurred from absenteeism. Presenteeism has been shown to be more of a burden on companies as there are more days where employees are present, but unproductive than they are absent or on sick leave (4).
An Australian study found that the healthiest employees are almost 3 times more effective than those who are were the most unhealthy. The healthiest employees showed that they worked 143 productive hours compared to 49 productive hours per month by the unhealthiest employees (2).
Global research has found that when employee health and wellness is managed well the percentage of engaged employees increases from 7% to 55%. This research also found self-reported creativity and innovation increases from 20% to 72% (2).
Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer (3,4). Correcting or improving nutrition and lifestyle behaviours is most effective by starting at the workplace as this is where people spend most of their time (1,3).
Successful interventions resulting in overall nutritional health may lead to reduced absenteeism and sick leave (2,3,4,5), reduced presenteeism and hence increased productivity (2,3,5). Depression and anxiety has also been associated with low productivity. Offering wellness programmes improves employee morale and enhances recruitment and retention of healthy employees.
In short – your company can save and benefit from implementing nutritional interventions in the workplace (2). Structured programmes with scheduled individual or group education on behavioural counselling is more effective than unstructured or self-directed programmes (3). We can plan a schedule programmes and/or educational presentation to suit your company’s needs.
Contact us for more information or if you would like to schedule a time to meet and discuss what we can do for your company.
References:
- Jay T. Sutliffe, Mary Jo Carnot, Joel H. Fuhrman et al. Worksite Nutrition Intervention is Effective at Improving Employee Well-Being: A Pilot Study. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism Volume 2018.
- https://www.comcare.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/99303/Benefits_to_business_the_evidence_for_investing_in_worker_health_and_wellbeing_PDF,_89.4_KB.pdf
- Amada D. Hutchinson and Carlene Wilson. Improving nutrition and physical activity in the workplace: a meta-analysis of intervention studies. Health Promotion International, Vol. 27 No. 2 (6 July 2011).
- Fitzgerald S, Murphy A, Kirby A, et al. Cost-effectiveness of a complex workplace dietary intervention: an economic evaluation of the Food Choice at Work study. BMJ Open 2018;8:e019182.
- Schröer, J. Haupt and C. Pieper. Evidence-based lifestyle interventions in the workplace—an overview. Occupational Medicine (2014;64:8–12)