Improving productivity and employee health go hand in hand. When employees are healthy, they tend to be more productive, have lower healthcare costs, fewer health-related limitations on their work, higher retention, and fewer absences.
As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease and strokes ake a toll on individuals their loved ones, and the workplace. The human and financial costs of these conditions can be staggering, leaving employers with a responsibility to address this pressing issue.
Human Costs: Employees with Heart Conditions
One of the most critical issues facing employees with CVDs is heart failure and returning to work. Heart disease and strokes take a toll on employees’ physical and emotional well-being and significantly impact their ability to work.
Work’s physical and mental demands can be challenging for someone recovering from a heart attack or dealing with heart failure, and many employees may not be able to return to work at all. This can lead to prolonged absence from work, increased medical expenses, and a lower quality of life for the affected employee.
Employees with heart conditions often have to take time off for medical appointments and treatments and may even have to take extended leave if their condition worsens. This affects the employee’s productivity and puts a strain on their colleagues, caregivers, and the business as a whole.
Business Costs: Employer Responsibility for Employees with Heart Diseases
The direct medical costs of CVD are expected to triple to over $800 billion by 2030, and employers bear a significant portion of these costs through employee health insurance and disability payments. However, for employersheart disease and stroke costs are not limited to healthcare expenses.
The financial burden also includes indirect costs from lost productivity, absenteeism, and short-term disability. In the first month alone, employers may see a cost increase of over $1,119 due to employee absenteeism and short-term disability.
Although the first month following a cardiovascular event has the highest cost, it can continue for up to three years, as employees may require additional time off for recovery and rehabilitation.
Employers can take certain steps to reduce the cost of heart disease in the workplace. Encouraging healthy lifestyle choices and providing access to preventative care can help prevent the onset of heart conditions and reduce the financial burden on the business.