Culture and productivity

"New Zealand’s medium-to-longer-run growth prospects and general standard of living critically depend upon its labour productivity performance. Relative to most OECD countries, the level of labour productivity in New Zealand is low."
Reserve Bank of New Zealand research bulletin 2007

Health and wellness programmes can contribute to increased productivity by supporting your employees’ ability to achieve and reducing the number of sick days taken.  A healthier workforce also results in stronger ‘championing’ of the company to others.

Southern Cross can help you to gain a healthier, more productive, loyal workforce. 

Research reveals positive results

A recent UK study by Unilever measured the difference in productivity between healthy and unhealthy employees.  It showed how employees who had a low score on their health risk assessments also performed at a lower level over time.2

Findings from workplace studies suggest that introducing workplace health programmes will enhance employee performance.

Research reviewed by Monash University has found that:

• Health and safety activities translate into economic benefits, because they help curb absenteeism and enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Employees who participate in workplace fitness programmes report improvements in anxiety, stress, and psychological well being.
• Even employees who don’t take up the programmes and benefits on offer are still more likely to be loyal and satisfied with the organisation for being offered the programme in the first place.

Presenteeism is potentially a bigger problem than absenteeism

• Presenteeism is the loss of productivity that occurs when employees come to work, but aren’t fully functioning because of an illness or injury. The lost productivity has a direct impact on a business’s bottom line.
• The costs of presenteeism could be up to 1.5 times the cost of absence.1
• Investing in workplace health can:
  - Send a powerful message to employees that the organisation values them and their contribution, helping to improve employee engagement and motivation.
  
  - Improve employees’ emotional resilience and their ability to cope with stress caused by job insecurity and changing job demans.
  
  - Help ensure the organisation is fitter for purpose and better-placed to weather changing economic conditions over the long-term.1

Make health and wellness your competitive advantage

• Companies with effective health and productivity programmes are more likely to have lower health care costs, lower levels of presenteeism, fewer lost days due to disabilities and lower levels of turnover relative to their industry peers.3
• The key to an effective health and productivity programme extends beyond the physical and mental health of employees. It’s also about creating organisational environment, culture and interpersonal relationships that connect employees to the mission and goals of the organisation.3
• Healthy and engaged employees are the real global currency in the competitive business landscape.3
• Fortune magazine’s annual ranking of the Best 100 Companies to Work For in the US shows that healthcare benefits, work-life balance and perks are important to companies that want to keep employees happy and attract new talent. At the same time, wellness programmes can mitigate the risks of an ageing workforce.2
• A conservative estimate of the benefits from improving the general wellness of a workforce indicates a likely annual return of three to one or more.2
   

Sources:
1. Healthy Work: Challenges and opportunities to 2030
2. Working towards wellness: World Economic Forum
3. The Health and Productivity Advantage 2009/2010