title: Leisure-time physical activity and direct cost of short-term sickness absence among Finnish municipal employees.
abstract: We aimed to examine the direct costs of short-term (1-14 days) sickness absence and the effect of employees' physical activity on the costs. The Finnish Helsinki Health Study survey (2007) was used in the analysis (n = 3,935). Physical activity was classified into inactive, moderately active, and vigorously active. Sickness absence (3 years follow-up) and salary data were derived from the employer's registers. On average, an employee was absent 6 days a year due to short-term sickness absence, with a production loss of 2,350 EUR during the 3 years. The vigorously active had less sickness absence than those less active. The direct cost of sickness absence of a vigorously active employee was 404 EUR less than that of an inactive employee. Promoting physical activity among employees may decrease direct cost of short-term sickness absence.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tolonen
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Ossi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rahkonen
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Exercise; physical activity; production loss; sick leave