Content area
Abstract
Over the past decade, lost worker productivity from absenteeism for health-related issues in the United States has cost businesses $190 billion. Healthcare costs and productivity losses continue to rise as the population ages and younger workers have lifestyles that are more sedentary. The changes in healthcare delivery and the Affordable Care Act have also impacted the costs of healthcare and may have contributed to younger, healthier individuals bypassing preventative care. The demand for health and the social determinants of health theories outline the relationships between investment in oneself through individual choices and the impact that investment has on the number of healthy, productive years. Where people live, work, and spend their time also impact overall health. Through the literature review, the researcher identified that employer-sponsored wellness programs may be the key to reducing absenteeism and presenteeism and improving overall health. Traditional healthcare coverage and services play a lesser role in maintaining health. The researcher also identified in the literature that many organizations approach health and productivity of workers in a vastly different way, which may contribute to inefficiencies in some employee-sponsored wellness programs. Many programs are achieving a return on investment while others are not. Thus, this qualitative study was designed to examine why workers perceive that employer investment in health and wellness can increase productivity and reduce absenteeism and how productivity and absenteeism are impacted by participating in an employer-sponsored wellness program. This study was conducted at a utility company in St. Louis, Missouri. The researcher used an electronic survey questionnaire with volunteers who met the study criteria. The researcher found that employers could reduce absenteeism and presenteeism by investing in workers' health. Wellness programs that are supported by the leadership team can yield long-term benefits to workers and the company.
