PROVO, UTAH
Employees with unhealthy habits are causing substantially higher levels of lost workplace productivity, according to new research out of Brigham Young University. Much of that is due to presenteeism — on the job productivity loss attributed to poor health and other personal issues.
"Presenteeism is an issue that affects most companies," said Ray M. Merrill, a professor in the College of Life Sciences at BYU. "Studies have shown that when presenteeism is on the shelf, productivity is off."
He was part of a team that analyzed employees of three geographically diverse companies in the United States in 2010. Researchers discovered that although health factors do play a part in productivity, it is work-related issues — not having sufficient support and resources — that has the greatest influence on presenteeism.
"We had roughly 20,000 people who were surveyed," Brother Merrill said. "We asked questions about presenteeism, demographics, health and other issues that might be related to subpar performance at the workplace. …
"The finding is that the main contributing factor to presenteeism is employees feeling like they have too much to do and not enough time to do it," he said. "They feel too overwhelmed so they sort of spin their wheels and aren't as productive as they normally should be."
Employees are more effective when they are put into positions where they are qualified and have the skills to perform well, Brother Merrill said. "Then [employees] take pride in what they do and they want to be at work. They feel like they are succeeding and making a contribution."
Other causes of presenteeism include insufficient technical support and resources available to an employee, as well as poor diet and physical health factors. "Personal health plays a role in presenteeism, but what seems to be more important is fitting employees into the right jobs and not requiring them to do more than they have time to do, and then providing the resources for them to do it."
Although personal health isn't the top contributing factor, it does make a big difference, he said.
"We have found in study after study that employers really do benefit financially as they make it possible for employees to be physically active and to have access to good foods," he said. "Healthful diets and those who exercise for 30 minutes on three or more days a week have lower levels of presenteeism."
Research shows that employees ages 30-40 seem to have a higher likelihood of presenteeism, and it is more common in separated, divorced or widowed women. "Women tend to have responsibilities with children — running them to school or picking them up when they are sick — they often have a bigger responsibility in that respect."
In order to help build productivity in the workforce, Brother Merrill suggested employers facilitate positive programs for employees such as wellness programs, counseling and educational material. "When employees feel like their employers care, that seems to make employees more committed to do a good job," he said. "It is also important for bosses to treat their employees as an equal."
Much of presenteeism is combated by living gospel principles, said Brother Merrill. "The Word of Wisdom is included in this, as well as getting enough sleep. The scriptures don't necessarily talk specifically about exercise, but they do talk quite a bit about work and being physically engaged."
It is through following the counsel given in Mosiah 4:27 where it reads, "for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength," individuals are able to have the ability to do the jobs they are asked to do, Brother Merrill noted. "It seems to me that it is very important with work and productivity — especially when we are put in a Church position — to have the support and take pride in your job as you are not asked to run faster than you have strength. When you are asked to do that, that is the primary cause of presenteeism."
