It’s a fact: Healthy employees are more productive, have fewer absences, and are more engaged overall, which can result in a positive impact on your company’s bottom line. However, according to a poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Foundation, the Harvard Opinion Research Program, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, employees agree that their jobs and workplaces have an impact on their health, but not necessarily in a positive manner.
In their survey of more than 1,600 adult workers in the United States, one in six (16%) responded that their current job has an adverse effect on their overall health. This negative impact also extends to the workers’ stress levels (43%), eating habits (28%), sleeping habits (27%), and weight loss or gain (22%). The main causes of stress at work aren’t terribly surprising – they include workload management, issues with managers or fellow employees, difficulty coping with work and personal life balance, and a perceived lack of job security.
An analysis conducted by the World Health Organization found that by 2030, the world will have lost 12 billion workdays due to depression and anxiety disorders. This adds up to an incredible 50 million years of work lost and puts the annual financial impact to the global economy at a staggering $925 billion.