Employers warned of growing impact of chronic disease

A report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the World Economic Forum claimed that over the next 25 years chronic diseases would increasingly become an issue for employers, and that as a result they needed to do more to develop "workplace wellness programmes".

Analysis had revealed that productivity losses associated with workers with chronic disease were as much as 400% more than the cost of treatment. Losses in productivity included disability, unplanned absences and increased accidents, as well as the "negative impacts" on work quality or customer service.

Depression, fatigue and sleeping problems – conditions often associated with chronic disease – tended to have the greatest impact on productivity.

Chronic diseases - including heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illness - were already responsible for more than half of all deaths in the world today, according to the report. This was expected to rise by 23% over the next 20 to 25 years.

In addition, chronic conditions were the prime cause of lost work time in the working-age population, accounting for around 40% of total lost time.

'Vested interest'

The report said chronic disease could be prevented and its effects mitigated through changes in lifestyle – such as maintaining a healthy weight and following a nutritional diet, as well as other "lower cost" preventative measures.

PwC claimed new evidence had shown that workplace wellness programmes were effective at reducing the risk of these diseases, and that businesses had a "vested interest" in their introduction.

Mike Thompson, human resource principal at PwC, said such programmes were now drawing "the highest levels of attention" from both senior management and government.

"Global companies already engaged in wellness programmes are demonstrating that these programmes are a way for them to enhance attraction, retention and the loyalty of employees, while reducing their own health costs, improving productivity and supporting their social commitments," he said.

Carrie Yu, global retail and consumer leader at PwC, added: "With appropriate leadership, organisations can and should help to drive change.

"There is a paradigm shift that must occur to focus greater attention on wellness, not sickness, and companies have a unique and vital role to play in improving the health and wellness of their employees."

A copy of the report - Working Towards Wellness: The Business Rationale - is available here.