The Association of Two Productivity Measures with Health Risks and Medical Conditions in an Australian Employee Population

Abstract Purpose. To investigate the impact of health on job performance using two measures of productivity loss: (1) a self-reported measure of health-related presenteeism and (2) an objective measure of absenteeism. Design. A cross-sectional survey using a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) to evaluate self-reported presenteeism and the prevalence of 12 health risks and eight medical conditions. Setting and Subjects. Employees (n  =  224) of a private insurance provider in Australia. Measures. A Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) questionnaire was used to evaluate self-reported presenteeism on different aspects of job demands and to assess the prevalence of 12 health risks and eight medical conditions. Illness absent hours were obtained from company administrative records. Results. Increased presenteeism was significantly associated with high stress, life dissatisfaction, and back pain, while increased illness absenteeism was significantly associated with overweight, poor perception of health, and diabetes. Excess pr...