---
title: Unhealthy workers endanger business productivity
description: People who make lead unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to be associated with high levels of lost productivity, according to a recent study.
---

[Skip to content](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity#main-content)

[![IES Logo_Full-ColorNavy](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IES%20Logo_Full-ColorNavy.png?width=300&height=140&name=IES%20Logo_Full-ColorNavy.png)](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/)

- [Innovative Employee Solutions Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com)

- [Innovative Employee Solutions Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com)

<https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity&url=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity&source=tweetbutton> <http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity> <http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity> [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity)

March 5, 2013

# Unhealthy workers endanger business productivity

Written by: [Innovative Employee Solutions](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/author/innovativeemployeesolutions)

People who may lead unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to be associated with high levels of lost productivity, according to a recent study published in the scientific journal Population Health Management.

The study, conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) and the Center for Health Research at Healthways examined data from [19,803 employees](http://www.the-hero.org/Press/releases/Presenteeism_8_6_2012.pdf) working at three separate large companies to determine the relationship between general wellness and presenteeism.

Presenteeism occurs when an workers' efficiency levels are diminished as a result of an illness, injury or other cause.

The study found employees with an unhealthy diet were 66 percent more likely to report experiencing a loss in productivity than workers ate fruits, vegetables and whole grains regularly. In addition, people who exercised only occasionally were 50 percent more likely to feel low levels of efficiencies as those who exercised often.

"Total health-related employee productivity loss accounts for 77 percent of all such loss and costs employers two to three times more than annual healthcare expenses," said lead author Ray Merril.

The study highlights the important role wellness initiatives play in company performance. [HR administration](http://innovativeemployeesolutions.com/wp/hr-administration/) professionals and employers should work together to determine what types of health programs best fit their workforce needs.

Tag(s): [Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/tag/blog)

## [Innovative Employee Solutions](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/author/innovativeemployeesolutions)

## Other posts you might be interested in

View All Posts

## [Blog 1 min read | October 20, 2011 Managing employees and social media conduct Read More](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/managing-employees-and-social-media-conduct)

## [Blog 1 min read | May 15, 2013 Study focuses on need for paid maternity leave Read More](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/study-focuses-on-need-for-paid-maternity-leave)

## [Blog 1 min read | March 5, 2012 Study: Workforce dissatisfied but stable Read More](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/study-workforce-dissatisfied-but-stable)

## Subscribe to email updates

Additional content around the benefits of subscribing to this blog feed.

- [Innovative Employee Solutions Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com)

 © 2014-2026 Innovative Employee Solutions. All rights reserved.

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeemployeesolutions/> <https://www.facebook.com/innovativeemployeesolutions> <https://twitter.com/innovativees> <https://www.instagram.com/innovativeemployeesolutions/> <https://www.youtube.com/user/InnovativeEmployees>

[CSR policy](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/corporate-social-responsibility-policy/) [Diversity & Inclusion](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-diversity-inclusion-policy/) [Privacy policies](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/privacy-policies/)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Innovative Employee Solutions",
    "url" : "https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/author/innovativeemployeesolutions"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-04-24T18:50:07.435Z",
  "datePublished" : "2013-03-05T09:32:37.000Z",
  "headline" : "Unhealthy workers endanger business productivity",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/unhealthy-workers-endangerbusiness-productivity",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/hubfs/Signature-TaglineKarla.png"
    },
    "name" : "Innovative Employee Solutions"
  }
}
```