The Cost of Unhealthy Employees in the Workforce

The Cost of Unhealthy Employees in the Workforce by Tony Testa #TheWellnessUniverse #WUVIP #UnhealthyEmployees
We’ve all called in sick for work at some point in time.

Employers are starting to realize that having healthy employees is vital to their companies’ success. Not only do healthy employees take less sick days, they’re also a lot more productive when at work.

So, why are some employers still hesitating to promote a healthy lifestyle for their employees?

My guess is, they don’t see the importance in it yet. Most employers, especially smaller employers think they will be wasting money. The fact of the matter is, by making a small investment in their employees they would see a great return in terms of work productivity and less sick days taken.

Let’s take a look at the impact of unhealthy employees on the American workforce.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a research on October 6, 2016, and the numbers were astonishing. Here are some of the results that were concluded in the study:


Costs the American workforce approximately $11.2 billion dollars a year in absenteeism and approximately 41.6 million people in the workforce are considered to be obese.


Which is another word for “high blood pressure” comes in at second with an approximate annual cost of $10.3 billion dollars to the American workforce. Roughly 34.6 million people in the workforce have hypertension.

Physical Inactivity:

Over 55 million people miss work a year due to physical inactivity, costing the workforce over $9 billion dollars per year.

Why should employers care about these numbers?

If you’re an employer of a company with five employees or thousands of employees, these numbers should be alarming to you. Why should you care? It’s their life, right? WRONG!!! They are your employees and they represent your company with how they look and how they act. Why not help give your business the best chance at succeeding by having healthy employees who can deliver when they’re at work, and are healthy enough to avoid calling in sick once a month.

How can we rectify this problem?

Getting your employees to be physically active does not have to be expensive. It can be as simple as organizing a daily outdoor activity. These activities can range from walking to playing soccer to having an aerobics class given. The best solution would be to offer all employees a gym membership where all their fitness needs can be addressed. If you can’t afford to get all your employees a gym membership, speak to a local gym and see what kind of pricing they can offer you if you send all your employees there. You might be able to cover half of the gym membership; the employee can cover the rest.

Giving your employees access to healthy foods in the workplace will definitely go a long way. It will give them the energy they need to perform at work, help prevent diseases such as diabetes and obesity. It will also encourage them to develop healthier eating habits long term.

Five tips to help you improve your health:
  1. Find a physical activity you enjoy doing.
  2. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
  3. Prepare your own meals, limit the number of times you eat out.
  4. Incorporate strength training into your regimen. (Building muscle has lots of benefits)
  5. Find someone who will join you in your quest for a healthier life.
In Conclusion:

If you’re an employer whose business is affected by unhealthy employees underperforming, you now know what you need to do. If you’re an individual who falls into the categories mentioned above or simply unhappy with your body, you now know what to do. GET MOVING! It’s really not that complicated.

If going to the gym is not your thing, find a physical activity that you enjoy doing. Find a friend who will join you so you can hold each other accountable. Developing healthier eating habits will drastically improve the way you look and feel. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Cut out fast food, soft drinks, and “junk food” Try making your own meals instead of always eating out. You can find a bunch of healthy recipes online for free.

Stop finding excuses, here’s to a healthier and happier you. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or need help getting started.


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Unite with The Wellness Universe on September 21st, 2017, honoring U.N. International Day of Peace by joining the One Ripple movement. Let’s use social media to create something beautiful, together!