U.S. workers who are overweight or have chronic health problems are costing their employers $153 billion in lost productivity annually, reports pollster Gallup.
These unhealthy workers miss 450 million more workdays than healthy workers, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index found.
According to the index only 14% of U.S. workers are normal weight and have no chronic conditions. They average four sick days a year. Here’s the breakdown of the rest of the workforce:
Source: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
The annual cost is based on lost productivity from employees missing work.
“The $153 billion in lost productivity estimated in this analysis would increase if it included ‘presenteeism,’ which is when employees go to work but are less productive in their jobs because of poor health,” Gallup says.
The data are based on surveys of almost 110,000 full-time U.S. workers between Jan. 2 and Oct. 2, 2011. Overweight or obesity were based on the workers’ self-reported height and weight.
Chronic health conditions include heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, asthma, depression or recurring neck, back, knee or leg pain over the past 12 months.
“The high percentages of full-time U.S. workers who have less than ideal health are a significant drain on productivity for U.S. businesses,” Gallup says.
Other business stories…
- 10 consumer products that beat the recession
- Report: 99.7% of O.C. residents pay no use tax
- Poll: How much money does government waste?
- O.C. chip maker gets $4.5 million, new CEO
- 11 businesses that have no future
- O.C. manufacturer turns 50
- 10 industries that are booming
- 10 companies with worst customer satisfaction
- Facebook most hated social media site
- Top 10 franchises that sell for under $50,000
- Crevier BMW sold to Penske Automotive Group