Impact of unhealthy lifestyles on productivity

Every good company needs good employees to run well. Employees who are generally healthy tend to be happier and more productive. Here are the three main factors that affect work performance.

Poor nutrition

Poor diet on the job is costing countries around the world up to 20% in lost productivity, either due to malnutrition that plagues some one billion people in developing countries or the excess weight and obesity afflicting an equal number mostly in industrialised economies, says a new study by the International Labour Office (ILO).

Poor meal programmes and poor nutrition underlie so many workplace issues: morale, safety, productivity, and the long-term health of employees.

Too often, food at work is seen as an afterthought or a hindrance by employers and is often a "missed opportunity" to increase productivity and morale. Canteens, if they exist, routinely offer an unhealthy and unvaried selection. Vending machines are regularly stocked with unhealthy snacks. Local restaurants can be expensive or in short supply. Street foods can be bacteria-laden. Workers sometimes have no time or place to eat or no money to purchase food.

Better nutrition in the workplace can raise productivity rates, while workplace meal programmes can prevent micronutrient deficiencies and chronic diseases reducing sick days and accidents.

Other findings

• The world is facing a "food gap" of staggering proportions, with one out of six people on the planet undernourished, and an equal number overweight or obese
• Inadequate nourishment can cut productivity by up to 20%
• In 2001, diet-related diseases contributed to about 46% of the global disease burden and 60% of all deaths worldwide, with cardiovascular disease alone amounting to 30% of deaths. The global burden of diet-related diseases is expected to climb to 57% by 2020
• In wealthier nations, obesity accounts for 2 to 7% of total health costs
• In the developing world, a 1% kilojoule increase results in a 2.27% increase in general labour productivity.

Smoking

Two independent studies done in Sweden and United States reveal the same thing – smoking affects our productivity at work.

The studies suggest that smokers take more leave consistently than non-smokers. Smoking was related to disabilities, decreased job performance, reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and taking long work breaks too often.

Stress or overwork

Every single person deals with stress in life. There is no way to ignore it. How you deal with stress makes or breaks you. Work stress can be particularly hard because it often impacts a lot more people than just you. Helping your employees maintain work /life balance can be vital to the health of your company.

Employee burnout has a major impact on productivity, but that's not its only negative effect.

• Overworked and overstressed employees are more likely to get sick and have high absentee rates
• A lack of work/life balance affects an employee’s attitude. Unhappy workers are typically less efficient and can destroy morale
• Burnout directly affects turnover rates. Employees can work at a frantic pace for only so long before they get frustrated and leave a company.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about the link between lifestyle and productivity. Call us on our EWP number or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .