Employers That Don't Intervene to Curb Workers' Bad Health Habits Incur More Costs
Ipsos Reid and Sun Life Financial, December 2010
Available
online
After conducting a poll of close to 4,000 Canadians in October 2010, the Sun Life Canadian Health Index noted two interrelated findings:
- A majority or employees have three or more unhealthy behaviors, and
- A majority also feel their employer bears some responsibility when it comes to their health.
And while some companies may balk at intervening in this area, and at the related costs for doing so, the research indicates not doing so may be worse in the long run when it comes to managing their costs, as employees exhibiting several unhealthy behaviors are more likely to incur higher group benefit costs due to absenteeism, drug claims and disability.
The study asked respondents about six lifestyle choices related to smoking, exercise, diet, sleep, stress and water intake. Sixty-three percent of Canadians report three or more unhealthy behaviours relating to these lifestyle choices. From a health perspective, lack of exercise, smoking and poor diet are major risk factors for diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Diabetes and its complications alone cost the Canadian health care system an estimated $13.2 billion every year in direct and indirect costs, including physician care, medication and long-term disability. Barriers to maintaining a healthy lifestyle included lack of willpower or motivation (61 percent) followed by lack of time (46 percent) and money (39 percent).
