Working conditions, strongly influence job performance
The association of corporate work environment factors, health risks, and medical conditions with presenteeism among Australian employees. Musich S, Hook D, Baaner S, Spooner M, Edington DW. Am J Health Promot. 2006. 21: 127-136.
Aim
To investigate the impact of work environment factors, health risks and medical conditions on job performance.
Looked at
1,523 employees from various industries in Australia, who completed a health risk appraisal.
How?
Appraisal data were divided into work factors, health risks and medical conditions, and were compared with presenteeism.
Results
- Life dissatisfaction, job dissatisfaction, stress, use of drugs/medication for relaxation and poor perception of health, all predicted presenteeism.
-
Of the medical conditions; heart problems, allergies, back pain and asthma were associated with an increased chance of presenteeism.
Work factors
Average percentage presenteeism (%)
Positive working conditions
14.3
Adverse working conditions
22.7
Positive management/leadership
14.8
Adverse management/leadership
21.7
Positive work/life balance
14.2
Adverse work/life balance
24.2
What does this mean?
Health management programmes that include interventions targeting work environments could increase at-work productivity.