Back pain and productivity: measuring worker productivity from an employer's perspective

Most non-elderly Americans receive their health insurance coverage through their workplace. Employers, who historically saw the provision of this benefit as only an incentive for recruitment and retention, are now beginning to appreciate the value of health coverage and its effect on organizational performance and productivity. Back pain is a major contributor to reduced worker productivity and management of back pain is a major driver for prescribing of analgesic pharmacotherapy. This article examines various methods to assess productivity gains or losses, from an employer's perspective.