Did you know that poor health costs the U.S. economy $576 billion a year?

Did you know that this poor health includes absenteeism due to illness to the cost of disability and workers’ compensation?

The research was done by Integrated Benefits Institute (which is a nonprofit research organization) that represents major U.S. employers and a business coalition. In addition to what I’ve itemized the researchers found that 39 percent—or $227 billion—is due to lost productivity associated with poor health. This lost productivity is due to employees who are absent due to illness or when they are under-performing due to poor health while still at work.

So what is the problem?

I think it is time to re-evaluate the relationship between management and employees. I know that it is time that we re-evaluate the pressure that employees are under. These pressures include both the pressures that people put on themselves and the pressures put on them in business.

Let me give you some factors that I believe would help the situation. I come at this as a bit of a student as I have been my own boss for most of my work career, so if these are out of line let me know. Jack Welch former CEO of G.E. said; “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” Here are the factors I think would help you become a leader and reduce the health costs;

1. The pay should be fair in recognition for the overall contribution to the work being done for the company.
2. Give recognition to people in public.
3. Criticize bad behavior in private.
4. Accept feedback (good or bad) from your staff.
5. Offer as much variety or uniqueness as the work activities will give.
6. Leverage your influencing skills to avoid micro-managing your staff.
7. Give support when needed with the daily hassles that business and life offer.

If you are a manager, is this a step in the right direction?

If you are an employee, would this help?