Each year in the United States, productivity losses linked to absenteeism cost employers $225.8 billion
(or $1,685 per employee).
Source: Healthy Workforce Infographic, Business Pulse, CDC Foundation, 2016
Improve Workplace Productivity
Many factors can make your employees less productive. But three key issues stand out:
- Unplanned or planned absences: Employees out through leave or disability
- Irregular absences: Employees out due to unplanned absences lasting less than three days
- Presenteeism: Employees at work with a health problem that limits job performance
Employees who face any of these situations can become disengaged. Not wanting to be at work hurts both their attitude and output. It may even take a toll on their colleagues.
Each year in the United States, productivity losses linked to absenteeism cost employers $225.8 billion
What Happens When Employees Lose Productivity?
When an employee goes out on disability or leave, there can be negative side effects for the business:
- The employee’s team may have to take on extra work.
- The employer might have to train someone to cover the employee who’s out.
- The employer could face presenteeism challenges with an employee who returns to work too soon.
When an employee tries to work while experiencing a medical condition that needs identification or proactive treatment, it could worsen and lead to:
- A continued loss of productivity
- A disability leave that results in the impacts listed above
Employees working through health conditions cost businesses the equivalent of three months per year in lost productivity.2
Source: The Cost of Presenteeism – and How to Fix It, Virgin Pulse Global Challenge, 2016
Expertise and Forward Thinking
How can businesses keep employees productive when they face these challenges? Look for a carrier who:
- Provides a proactive, holistic approach to disability and leave management
- Knows that disability management is more than just getting people back to work
- Helps employees remain at or return to work with effective resources like
- A vocational rehab program
- An online ergo tool
- Understands the importance of working with employees before, during and after their disability absences
- Brings expertise in employee accommodations and helps with ADAAA
Resources
Lost Productivity Can Cost Your Business
Sometimes it’s hard to grasp how much an organization can lose from reduced productivity. This infographic illustrates the problem.
Good Disability Management Can Improve Productivity
In this article featured in California Broker, Brain Kost, senior director of The Standard’s Workplace PossibilitiesSM program, discusses the link between proactive support for employees facing disability and higher productivity.
3 Ways to Counter Presenteeism
In this Workplace Possibilities blog post, Alison Daily, 2nd vice president, Medical & Return-to-Work Services, discusses ways to prevent employees with health conditions from becoming disengaged at work.
How to Help Employees With Medical Conditions
Managers are often on the front lines of helping employees stay at work while facing a health issue or return to work after a disability leave. This content lists some actions they can take to help ensure their team members get the support they need.
Help Shorten Leave Duration
Did you know providing workplace accommodations support can help to shorten disability leave times by an average of 30 days? Get more insights from our exclusive Employee Disability Leave Study.
Workplace Possibilities Program
We can help your people stay at work or return to work sooner by managing and reducing the causes of disability. Our service combines your programs with specialized ergonomic and vocational expertise.
Absence Management Services
Absence Management Services make it easy to track employee leaves like Short Term Disability or Family Medical Leave. We offer expert help to stay in compliance with all state and federal regulations.