Employee health habits that cost you money

Companies are continuing to deal with the rising cost in health insurance costs.As these companies look to find ways to lower insurance costs and increase productivity among employees, they are discovering that employee health has a direct effect on both insurance costs and productivity.Here are a few employee health habits that cost companies money.

Soft Drinks and Junk Food

Many employees choose to drink soft drinks while at work.Many of the soft drinks of choice are caffeinated.Some employees are looking for an extra boost to keep them going through the entire day; others simply prefer the taste of caffeinated drinks to other drinks.What these employees don't realize is that with the added boost comes a significant loss of energy.This loss of energy can have an effect on productivity.If employees choose to remedy the drop in energy by drinking more soft drink they soon begin to see the effects of their decisions.Soft drinks are made of lots of sugar and empty calories which can cause obesity, diabetes, and other health issues.These health issues will translate into higher insurance costs and lower productivity.

The junk food employees find in the break room is not much better for them.When employees choose to substitute lunch for a candy bar and bag of chips, they are choosing to hurt their bodies.Like with soft drinks, the sugar and empty calories contained in junk food can, when eaten regularly, cause health issues and productivity losses.

Smoking

Another health habit that costs employers money is smoking.Employees that smoke drive up health insurance costs.They also take more sick days, go to the doctor more often, bring sickness into the office, and must take breaks to smoke.If the company allows them to smoke inside the office, then the company is picking up a higher maintenance bill also.As cities become more and more smoke free, businesses are discovering that smokers cost money.

Inactivity

Employees that sit at their desk all day at work and then sit all evening at home have created a health habit that is costing their employer money.Not only are they making themselves susceptible to heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity, but those diseases lead to other diseases like arthritis and diabetes.All of these things have a direct affect on productivity and health insurance costs.

Moonlighting

Some employees decide to embrace in high risk behavior such as late night partying, binge drinking, and illicit drugs.These behaviors may even just be done casually by employees.Either way, these types of health habits are costing their employer money.Employees that arrive at work hung over or still buzzed or high are not being productive at work.Also, they are making themselves susceptible to other diseases and sicknesses.Some are minor like having a worn down immune system and catching a cold to contracting HIV.Either way these high risk behaviors can lead to high insurance costs, used sick days, and lower productivity.

While many employees feel that they are free to choose their health habits, many employers are finding that the decisions their employees make regarding their health have a direct affect on company costs.From just drinking too much soft drink or eating to much junk food to high risk behaviors such as binge drinking or illicit drugs, employers are searching for ways to encourage or enforce healthier habits for their employees.