Victorian business owners have been put on notice to take immediate action to support the health of their workers after new research shows one in four employees have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a life-threatening yet preventable disease.

 

WorkSafe Victoria’s study of more than 400,000 WorkHealth checks conducted across the state’s employment landscape reveals nearly one in three men (29.9%) and one in six women (16.4%) have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (23.3% of total workforce).

 

The study, prepared by Monash University, also shows the number of workers with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease or both is slightly higher in rural areas than metropolitan areas.

 

WorkHealth ambassador, Mr Wayne Kayler-Thomson, said business owners and leaders need to take steps to support better health among their workforces, not only for the benefit of employees but also for their bottom line.

 

“We’re talking about crucial things like reducing absenteeism, boosting productivity and attracting motivated, committed staff to deliver strong results for your business – all of which are linked to the health of your workers.

 

“Business leaders are facing the significant challenges of a labour shortage, an ageing workforce and climbing rates of chronic disease, due in part to poor lifestyle choices. They should be concerned about the negative impact this will have on productivity and efficiency, but I believe there is a lot they could be doing to prevent this,” Mr Kayler-Thomson said.

 

The results show that 92.9 per cent of workers are not including enough fruit and vegetables in their diet while 69.9 per cent of workers are not doing enough physical activity.

 

Mr Kayler-Thomson said these lifestyle-related findings highlight a real opportunity for businesses to influence the health of their employees.

 

“With the average Victorian spending a third of their day at work, employees are appreciative of an employer that places value on supporting their health and wellbeing.”

In fact, WorkSafe research found that 58 per cent of people consider attitudes towards employee health as a key factor when seeking a new employer.

 

Research from Direct Health Solutions found that absenteeism cost Australian businesses an average of $3,619 per employee in 2010, which is a national cost of between $26 billion and $30 billion, while another Medibank Private study found that presenteeism cost the Australian economy $34.1 billion in 2009-10.

 

Organisations are starting to recognise the importance of supporting employee health, both for the wellbeing of their workforce and the business. KPMG, for example, provides a robust health and wellness program that has produced fantastic results, including a reduction in absenteeism and worker compensation claims and an enhanced reputation as an employer of choice.

 

“At the very least, all businesses should sign up for free WorkHealth checks as a simple starting point to help workers understand the state of their personal health,” Mr Kayler-Thomson said.

 

Rachel Gualano, WorkHealth Director, said that other programs available through WorkHealth, including free health coaching for individuals and grants for workplaces, means it is now even easier to encourage and support better health among workers.

 

“There are really simple, cost-effective things that employers can do straight away – such as providing facilities to enable riding to work, fruit and vegetable box deliveries, or group exercise programs,” Ms Gualano said.

 

“With the resources and information now available, plus the overall cost benefits to business, there really isn’t any excuse for leaders not to take steps to support the health of their workers.”

 

Key research findings included:

  • 1.1% of workers (4,315) were advised to see their GP urgently within 24 hours, mainly due to very high blood pressure or blood glucose levels. Males were twice as likely to receive this urgent referral than females.
  • Males were twice as likely as females to have high blood pressure (32.5% versus 16.2%).
  • Males were almost six times as likely as females to have a high cardiovascular risk score (7.4% versus 1.3%).
  • Males were almost twice as likely as females to have a high risk of type 2 diabetes (29.9% versus 16.4%).
  • One in four (24.7%) WorkHealth check participants had high to very high blood glucose levels (> 6.5mmol/L).
  • Over a quarter of workers (29.4%) had a total cholesterol level above the normal range, while the prevalence of low HDL cholesterol was four times higher in males (24.9%) compared with females (6.5%).
  • Females were less likely to smoke (15.7% compared with 20.7%).
  • Males were more likely to drink alcohol at risky levels (48.6% compared with 28.6%).
  • Older workers have healthier lifestyles, but higher biomedical and physical risks – including blood pressure, blood glucose, waist measurement and cholesterol.