The association between health risk change and presenteeism change.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study investigates whether changes in health risks are associated with changes in presenteeism (on-the-job productivity loss).


METHODS
A total of 7026 employees of a national financial services company responded to a health risk appraisal (HRA), which included a modified version of the Work Limitation Questionnaire (WLQ) in both 2002 and 2004. The association between changes in health risks and changes in self-reported presenteeism was examined.


RESULTS
Changes in perceptual/psychologic health risks had a strong association with changes in presenteeism. Individuals who reduced their risks generally saw an improvement in productivity, whereas those who gained risks or remained high-risk status saw deterioration in productivity. Each risk factor increased or reduced was associated with a commensurate change in 1.9% productivity loss over time and estimated to be 950 dollars per year per risk changed.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive and negative changes in health risks are associated with same-direction changes in presenteeism.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Wayne N
WN
Burton
Chin-Yu
CY
Chen
Daniel J
DJ
Conti
Alyssa B
AB
Schultz
Dee W
DW
Edington
D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004526:Efficiency; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015146:Midwestern United States; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires