Being out of work is bad for your health!

For many of us Memorial Day signifies the start of the summer vacation season.  Each year many of us anxiously await the opportunity for a week or so off from work, vacationing or "stay-cationing."  We relish the time that we get to spend with friends and family, relaxing and trying not to think about work.  While it is said that vacation time is linked to many aspects of mental and physical well-being, too much of a good thing is never a good thing.

Did you know that being out of work may actually be bad for your health?  That's right, I said it.  Let me clarify -- I'm not stating that being out of work for a work related injury is equivalent to taking PTO or vacation, nor am I stating that we shouldn't be taking a well-deserved vacation...trust me. 

The evidence
In a literature review conducted by Waddell & Burton (2006) regarding the impact of unemployment, re-employment, and work for sick and disabled people demonstrates the following findings:

• Unemployment:
• Poorer mental and physical health
• Increased medical treatment, use of medication and frequency of hospitalization
• Higher mortality
• Re-Employment
• Can lead to increased self-esteem
• May improve mental and physical health
• Reduced psychological distress
• Work for sick/disabled people
• Promotes recovery and rehabilitation
• Results in better health outcomes
• Reduces poverty
• Better quality of life
• Is therapeutic

The numbers
Long periods out of work may result in:

• 2 to 3 times increased risk of poor general and mental health
• 20% excess mortality
• Example:
• According to the Center for Disease Control, the average life expectancy for an American is 78.5 (CDC, 2012)
• A 20% mortality rate means that this life expectancy would be reduced by 15.7 years, to 62.8

Impact on employers

In an economy where every penny matters, employers cannot afford to overlook the financial impact of keeping injured employees out of work. 

The odds of an injured worker returning to work after being disconnected from the workplace is less than 15% (Talmage & Melhorn, 2005).  Based on industry research, the longer and injured employee is out of work, healthcare costs are at risk of being increased in addition to potential workers' compensation premium increases due to increased claim costs.



The importance of effective RTW programs

Often times when an employer considers modified duty, their primary focus is on the impact it will have on their bottom line, workforce and WC insurance premiums.  It is unlikely that many employers consider how failing to return an injured employee to modified duty can impact their health insurance premiums, disability insurance premiums, and mental health of the injured employee.  Contact Eastern Alliance Insurance Group today to discuss how simple it is to implement an effective ecovery  Return to Wellness program.  You can also follow our simple 10-step guide to building an ecovery Return to Wellness program, or download one of our off the shelf programs from our ecovery library.

References:

Waddell G., Burton, A.K. (2006). Is work good for your health and well being? London, The Stationery Office.

Talmage, J. B., & Melhorn, J. M. (Eds.) (2005). A physician’s guide to return to work.  Chicago, IL:  American Medical Association Press.