Wellness program coupled to positive changes in productivity
Change in health risks and work productivity over time. Pelletier B, Boles M, Lynch W. J Occup Environ Med. 2004. 46: 746-754.
Aim
To assess the effect of a work-based wellness program on health risk status and at-work productivity levels.
Looked at
500 employees from a large US-based company who participated in an online and onsite wellness program. The employees had completed a health risk appraisal (HRA) and a productivity questionnaire in 2001 and 2002.
How?
Data about health risk factors and productivity before and after implementation of the health promotion strategy were compared.
Results
- Over the course of the program, 49% of individuals reduced their number of health risk factors (19% dropped two or more risk factors; 30% dropped one factor).
-
A reduction of one health risk factor resulted in a 9% improvement in presenteeism and a 2% reduction in absenteeism, when adjusted for baseline demographic characteristics.
Health risk factors
Proportion of employees
Change in proportion
of employees (%)
% Before program
% After program
Poor diet
80
73
-7
High cholesterol levels
50
18
-32
Overdue preventative visits
32
20
-12
High stress levels
31
27
-4
What does this mean?
The positive changes seen in presenteeism and absenteeism support investment in such wellness programs.