The economic burden of employee absenteeism has been well documented.However,emerging information regarding loss of productivity by an on-the-job employee with an unmanaged illness may be five times more costly for American employers than employee absenteeism. “Presenteeism” is when employees are on-the-job but slowed down by health conditions.Associated costs of on-the-job productivity losses were higher than medical costs in most cases and represented 18 to 60 per cent of all costs for health conditions.

Employers need to weigh the costs of wellness and health promotion and good medical benefits against the potential of on-the-job productivity losses, which may be substantial.The costs of health benefits, health promotion and prevention diminish when compared to the cost of lost productivity from chronic conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, depression with mental illness and arthritis.