The association between modifiable well-being risks and productivity: a longitudinal study in pooled employer sample

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Health Management

Background:

• Employee well-being is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of workplace productivity.
• Traditional health metrics may not fully capture the multifaceted risks impacting employee performance.
• Understanding modifiable risks is essential for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term association between modifiable well-being risks and employee productivity.
• To quantify the impact of changes in well-being risks on absenteeism, presenteeism, and job performance.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study involving 19,121 employees across five organizations.
• Baseline and follow-up well-being assessment surveys were administered.
• Multivariate regression analyses examined associations between changes in 19 well-being risks and productivity outcomes.

Main Results:

• A 5% reduction in well-being risks correlated with significant improvements: 0.74% decrease in absenteeism, 2.38% decrease in presenteeism, and 0.24% increase in performance.
• Key independent contributors to productivity impairment included high blood pressure, pain, poor diet, lack of exercise, emotional health, supervisor relations, underutilization of strengths, and organizational unsupportiveness.
• Work-related and financial well-being risks offered additional explanatory power for productivity variations.

Conclusions:

• Modifiable well-being risks, including work-related and financial factors, significantly influence longitudinal productivity.
• Interventions targeting these often-overlooked risks can lead to measurable improvements in employee productivity.
• A holistic approach to employee well-being is crucial for optimizing workplace performance.