Diabetes and Its Affect on the Workplace - Research Paper Example

Diabetes and its affect on the Workplace Diabetes and its affect on the Workplace In the year 2007 people with diabetes lost 15 million working days in the United States as a result the nation’s economy lost several billion dollars. About 18.8 million people are afflicted with the disease in the United States. Even though studies show varying figures in different countries because of different valuation methods, the common thread is that diabetes severely affects Productivity (Liburd, 2009). Diabetes affects work productivity in four fundamental ways, Absenteeism, Presenteeism, Productivity and Death and Early Retirement. The overall effect is loss of work productivity either directly or indirectly. Productivity costs are those linked to the loss of Production, replacing sick workers, disability and the death of productive individuals. A report by The Institute of Medicine of the United States in 2010 indicated that the yearly value of lost Productivity was in the range of 297.4 to 335.5 billion dollars.11.6 to12.7 billion dollars was lost in work missed, 95.2 to 96.5 billion dollars in hours of work lost and 190.6 to 226.3 billion dollars in lower wages (Harder, 2013). Those suffering from diabetes are more frequently absent from and work for fewer hours. They are more likely to lose over two hours per week. Absenteeism peaks with age but varies by demographic group (Harder, 2013). Presenteeism refers to being present at work but performing inefficiently. Those with diabetes have higher presenteeism rates. Diabetes and related complications often lead to disability and even death, robbing the nation of skilled workers and reducing productivity levels. Diabetes victims often stop working, prefer part time work or are totally unemployed. When they work they are victims of work limitations either personally or by their Supervisors (Matthews, Meston, Dyson, Shaw, King and Aparna 2008). Productivity costs include unplanned absence from work, permanent disability death before the age of retirement. Death and disability have greater indirect productivity costs. Most studies use the minimum wage as the base of productivity hours lost yet many diabetic workers earn above the minimum wage. Diabetes statistics reflect a Gender and Racial bias. Most victims tend to be male, single, African-American or non Hispanic, less wealthy, less educated and are likely to suffer from chronic health conditions. Studies reveal that diabetes is more prevalent in men than women in across all age brackets. Figures from 2008 and 2009 breakdown the percentages of diagnosed diabetes by race as follows, Hispanic whites stand at 7.6 %, Asian Americans at 9.0 %, Hispanics at 12.8%, non-Hispanic blacks at 13.2 % and American Indians and Natives of Alaska at 15.9 %. Moreover the risk of diabetes is 77 % higher among African-Americans and 66 % higher among Hispanics, while death rates from diabetes related complications for American Indians and Natives of Alaska was three times higher than that of the rest of the United States (Liburd, 2009). Premature death due to diabetes reduces future productivity levels. About 65,700 amputations are done every year on people with diabetes which makes it hard for them to work or seek future employment. Based on 2010 death certificates, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. These numbers do not include the many cases where diabetes caused deaths go unreported. The effect of diabetes increases with age and greatly varies demographically, however studies clearly show that older workers miss work more frequently, work less and retire from work earlier (Liburd, 2009). As we age risks of diabetes and other heart diseases rise. The direct costs start with employers incurring medical costs including Health and Patient Plan Liability. In the year 2012 The National Health Insurance Service estimated that diabetes cost The United States 245 billion dollars. Of these 76 billion dollars went to direct medical costs and 69 billion dollars to reduced productivity. In 2011 the National Diabetes Fact Sheet reported that 2.6 billion dollars were lost due to direct absenteeism, 20.0 billion dollars lost to reduced productivity at work, 0.08 billion dollars lost by those in the labor force but unable to perform optimally, 7.9 billion dollars lost from diabetes related disability and 269 billion dollars lost to early mortality (Matthews, Meston, Dyson, Shaw, King and Aparna 2008). Sick workers may suffer from fatigue and concentration problems. Loss of production decreases national wealth and the availability of labor resources. As a result the Gross National Product goes down as Social Insurance goes up. Gross Domestic Product will inevitably be spent on disability and compensation for sickness. Studies show that Norway spent 4.8 %, Sweden 3.6 %, Netherlands 3.7 %, Canada 0.5 5 and the United States 1.7 % of their Gross Domestic Product in compensating sick workers. High levels of absence, disability and deaths lead to labor shortages, then to low competition in the labor market and ultimately diminishing export and economic growth. Direct costs include hospital in patient care, prescription medication, diabetic supplies, visits to physicians and nursing and residential care costs. It is estimated that diabetic patients each use 7900 dollars in a year for medical care (Barnett and Kumar 2009). Indirect costs occur due not working or working less resulting in poor economic circumstances and loss of self esteem. Diabetics may attract discrimination from employers which decreases their chances of employment and of getting subsequent jobs. Other indirect costs include pain and suffering by the victim and the care by family, relatives, friends and other care givers. Excess medical expenditure is incurred prior to diagnosis and regular health care costs connected with diabetes. Absence from work has social and economic effects and returning to work after a long period affects the way workers relate with one another and their Superiors. (Liburd, 2009)Frequently absent workers are stereo typed as lazy and unproductive. Economic hardships may force workers who have not fully recovered to resume work worsening their condition and stressing them (Liburd, 2009). Costs like interviews, phone calls, time, and adjustment period for the new worker, training and orientation are incurred while replacing sick workers. New workers need to adapt to the work environment and new colleagues. This requires a change in group working dynamics. The absence of key workers in teams is very disrupting to work flow (Barnett and Kumar 2009). Deadlines may be postponed and the organization may need to keep labor reserves. The career growth of sick workers plummets. Diabetes comes with related complications that include stroke, heart attack, amputation of limbs, failure of the kidneys and even blindness (Harder, 2013). Those suffering from diabetes lead poor quality lives. In conclusion diabetes reduces the ability to work effectively and therefore prevention and intervention programs need to be introduced to assist in managing the disease. Studies show that diabetes is on the increase among the working population. Prevention measures include medicine, diet and exercise. Health promotion initiatives reduce absenteeism rates. Employers with good health and productivity programs achieve better business and financial outputs (Matthews, Meston, Dyson, Shaw, King and Aparna 2008). Such measures will lead to good health and better quality of life which will economically benefit society. A healthy population is beneficial to society at large. References Barnett, T., & Kumar, S. (2009). Obesity and Diabetes. London: John Wiley and Sons. Harder, H. (2013). Disability Management and Workplace Integration: International Research Findings. Atlanta: Gower Publishing Limited. Liburd, L. (2009). Diabetes and Health Disparities: Community-Based Approaches for Racial and Ethnic Populations. Chicago: Springer Publishing Company. Matthews, D., Meston N., Dyson P., Shawn, B., Jenny C., King L., & Aparna, P. (2008). Diabetes (The Facts). New York: Oxford University Press. Read More