For Employers, Employee Health Matters

Employers are positioned daily to help guide their employees towards better health.

Health is more than the absence of disease; it is a resource that allows people to realize their aspirations, satisfy their needs and to cope with the environment in order to live a long, productive, and fruitful life1.

On a daily basis employers engage, to varying degrees, with employees regarding circumstances relating to theirs or their families health. Physical health, income, housing, transportation are all factors that play a role in our overall health and can impact our ability to work .

Research shows that employees in good health are more likely to deliver optimal performance in the workplace. Healthy employees not only have better quality of life, they also benefit from having a lower risk of disease, illness, and injury, as well as increased work productivity and a greater likelihood of contributing to their communities2.

One of the leading causes of absenteeism and lost productivity is depression. In a 3-month period, patients with depression miss an average of 4.8 workdays and suffer 11.5 days of reduced productivity5.

The economic impact of depression is high at $210 billion annually in the U.S., consisting of direct health care costs, lost productivity and early death from suicide . In our nation, 1 in 5 working age adults lives with a mental health condition, yet more than 60% do not receive treatment4.

When employees access effective and timely mental health and substance use care, the result is a healthier, more productive, and higher performing workforce4.

As of August 2021, 61.7% of the population age 16 years and older are employed according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics3. The workplace can be an ideal location to reach those individuals and guide them towards community resources designed to aid in improving health and well-being.

For more information on available health resources and special events visit our website at www.mehop.org.

References:

  1. CDC: Well-Being Concepts. Last reviewed: October 31, 2018
  2. CDC: Engaging Employees in Their Health and Wellness. Last reviewed: August 24, 2018
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject. Data extracted on: September 17, 2021.
  4. Center for Workplace Mental Health. Workplace Mental Health – Improving Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Care.
  5. CDC: Depression Evaluation Measures. Last reviewed: April 1, 2016.

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