Culture and productivity
New Zealand’s medium-to-longer-run growth prospects and general standard of living critically depend upon its labour productivity performance. Relative to most OECD countries, the level of labour productivity in New Zealand is low... Reserve Bank of New Zealand research bulletin 2007
Health and wellness programmes can contribute to increased productivity by supporting your employees’ ability to achieve and reducing the number of sick days taken. A healthier workforce also results in stronger ‘championing’ of the company to others.
Southern Cross can help you to gain a healthier, more productive, loyal workforce.
Research reveals positive results
Findings from workplace studies suggest that introducing workplace health programmes will enhance employee performance.
Research reviewed by Monash University has found that:
- Health and safety activities translate into economic benefits, because they help curb absenteeism and enhance productivity and efficiency.
- Employees who participate in workplace fitness programmes report improvements in anxiety, stress, and psychological well being.
- Even employees who don’t take up the programmes and benefits on offer are still more likely to be loyal and satisfied with the organisation for being offered the programme in the first place.
Presenteeism is potentially a bigger problem than absenteeism
- Presenteeism is the loss of productivity that occurs when employees come to work, but aren’t fully functioning because of an illness or injury. The lost productivity has a direct impact on a business’s bottom line.
- US research has found the cost of presenteeism corresponds to approximately 3% of a company’s gross payroll. 1
- Another study, this time Australian, showed that workers with a high HWB (health and well being) score worked approximately 143 effective hours compared to 49 effective hours worked per month for a worker with a low HWB score. 2
- The causes of presenteeism are diverse: Unhealthy lifestyles, workers with illnesses going to work, depression, allergies and asthma, inability to maintain (or achieve) a work-life balance and personal or job-related stress.
Source: The health of Australia’s workforce, November 2005, Medibank Private
Make health and wellness your competitive advantage
- Companies that are among the first to introduce wellness initiatives are likely to benefit to a larger degree from potential productivity gains than those businesses that wait. 2
- Investing in employee health can create a win-win situation for employers and employees alike. Employees can enjoy better health and improved quality of life while companies realise more productivity from their employees. 2
- Committed, loyal employees will do more on their employer’s behalf. 3
- Employees with a high opinion of their employer will want to stay.3
- A happy workforce results in higher productivity and stronger ‘championing’ of the company to others.3
Sources:
1. Goetzel R.Z., Long S.R., Ozminkowski R.J., Hawkins K., Wang S. and W. Lunch (2004), Health, absence, disability and presenteeism. Journal of Occupational and Environment Medicine
2. Source: The health of Australia’s workforce, November 2005, Medibank Private
3. 2006/07 Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand Study
Culture and productivity
New Zealand’s medium-to-longer-run growth prospects and general standard of living critically depend upon its labour productivity performance. Relative to most OECD countries, the level of labour productivity in New Zealand is low... Reserve Bank of New Zealand research bulletin 2007
Health and wellness programmes can contribute to increased productivity by supporting your employees’ ability to achieve and reducing the number of sick days taken. A healthier workforce also results in stronger ‘championing’ of the company to others.
Southern Cross can help you to gain a healthier, more productive, loyal workforce.
Research reveals positive results
Findings from workplace studies suggest that introducing workplace health programmes will enhance employee performance.
Research reviewed by Monash University has found that:
- Health and safety activities translate into economic benefits, because they help curb absenteeism and enhance productivity and efficiency.
- Employees who participate in workplace fitness programmes report improvements in anxiety, stress, and psychological well being.
- Even employees who don’t take up the programmes and benefits on offer are still more likely to be loyal and satisfied with the organisation for being offered the programme in the first place.
Presenteeism is potentially a bigger problem than absenteeism
- Presenteeism is the loss of productivity that occurs when employees come to work, but aren’t fully functioning because of an illness or injury. The lost productivity has a direct impact on a business’s bottom line.
- US research has found the cost of presenteeism corresponds to approximately 3% of a company’s gross payroll. 1
- Another study, this time Australian, showed that workers with a high HWB (health and well being) score worked approximately 143 effective hours compared to 49 effective hours worked per month for a worker with a low HWB score. 2
- The causes of presenteeism are diverse: Unhealthy lifestyles, workers with illnesses going to work, depression, allergies and asthma, inability to maintain (or achieve) a work-life balance and personal or job-related stress.
Source: The health of Australia’s workforce, November 2005, Medibank Private
Make health and wellness your competitive advantage
- Companies that are among the first to introduce wellness initiatives are likely to benefit to a larger degree from potential productivity gains than those businesses that wait. 2
- Investing in employee health can create a win-win situation for employers and employees alike. Employees can enjoy better health and improved quality of life while companies realise more productivity from their employees. 2
- Committed, loyal employees will do more on their employer’s behalf. 3
- Employees with a high opinion of their employer will want to stay.3
- A happy workforce results in higher productivity and stronger ‘championing’ of the company to others.3
Sources:
1. Goetzel R.Z., Long S.R., Ozminkowski R.J., Hawkins K., Wang S. and W. Lunch (2004), Health, absence, disability and presenteeism. Journal of Occupational and Environment Medicine
2. Source: The health of Australia’s workforce, November 2005, Medibank Private
3. 2006/07 Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand Study