Today’s workplaces are stressing us out, and adversely impacting our health and well-being, according to research by Harvard Business School. We are working too many hours, and too many hours of work have been shown to be related to high-blood pressure and a host of other diseases. Workplace stress might be affecting your health more than you think.
Absence of job control, work-family conflict and economic insecurity are all stressors. The combination of working too much and having too much stress can literally kill people. People’s minds affect their bodies. Stress is a mental state. It’s not surprising that things that make you stressed, nervous, anxious and feel out of control have enormous physiological impact.
Research has long-shown the negative impact of workplace stress in our lives. The Harvard study brought all of the previous research on the topic together in an effort to create a model that estimates the total effects on population health and health-care costs.
What is the effect of all of this stress?
The Harvard researchers found that there are about 120,000 deaths annually in the U.S. related to excess stress. Close to $190 billion is spent in healthcare costs as a consequence of exposures to harmful workplace conditions. These conditions include:
- absence of health insurance
- shift work
- working too many hours
- job insecurity
- work/family conflict
- not feeling things are fair and just
- lack of social supports, among others.
The mortality rate for excess stress is comparable to some of the largest causes of death, namely heart disease and accidents. It’s more than the death rate from Alzheimer’s, diabetes or the flu.
What are the worst workplace stressors?
The biggest contributors to healthcare costs are chronic stressors, such as absence of healthcare, economic insecurity, too many work hours and work/family conflicts.
How much is in our control?
Employees need to understand that jobs that don’t offer healthcare, require long hours, shift work and are economically insecure are more than an inconvenience. These types of stressors will have a profound impact on their lives and should be taken into account when considering a position.
Employers who worry about healthcare costs should be more concerned about the work environment. The study found that employers tend to worry about individual decisions like employee eating, exercising, smoking, drinking, etc. Employers also tend to be concerned about broad social policy issues, like how we pay for healthcare in the U.S.
Most excess healthcare costs are a result of what people experience in the work environment. Employers need to understand the importance of reducing stress in the work environment; most of these issues are things the employer could improve or remedy if so desired.
How can we make things better?
Employers need to recognize the costs incurred when employees must live with excessive stressors and design a benefits program that, while supporting the company’s priorities, reduces risk and controls costs, takes into account employee stress and morale. MMA can review your current benefits program and help you design a strategic plan for the right coverages and cost control strategies.
MMA can help you determine the financial impact on your business while putting in place a plan that will control employee stress and possibly save their lives. Contact us today to get started.
Related Offerings
Health Management ConsultingYou May Also Be Interested In
- Event
01.20.2021
Webinar | New Developments in the Classification of Workers
- Event
01.27.2021
Webinar | The New Norm: Maintaining Productivity While Working From Home
- Event
02.09.2021
Webinar | 1+2=5? Understanding Your Benefits Cafeteria Plan
- Blog
01.14.2021
Benefits News and Views
- Event
01.13.2021
Webinar | Leave of Absence and Return to Work Issues in the Era of COVID-19
- Blog
12.31.2020
WellConnected Resources
- Event
12.17.2020
Webinar | Year End Checklist 2020 and Future Forecast 2021
- Event
11.19.2020
Webinar | ACA Reporting Requirements 2020
- Event
11.12.2020
Webcast | 2020 Election Results: The Impact to Benefit Plans
- Blog
11.12.2020
Live Well Work Well Newsletters
- Event
10.21.2020
Webinar | Telemedicine: Permanent Solution or Temporary Fix
- Event
10.15.2020
Webinar | Health Savings Accounts 2020
- Blog
10.14.2020
INSIGHTS Newsletter
- Event
10.08.2020
Lunch & Learn: Take Charge Health
- Blog
09.24.2020
DOL Issues New FFCRA Leave Guidance
- Event
09.17.2020
Webinar | FMLA and Employee Benefits 2020
- Event
09.15.2020
Webcast | Benefit Administration: State of the Market
- Blog
08.21.2020
Open Enrollment Going Virtual
- Event
08.20.2020
Webinar | Compliance Considerations When Self-Insuring 2020
- Event
07.22.2020
WEBINAR | Next Chapter: Massachusetts Family Leave Act 2021
- Event
07.21.2020
Webcast | Senior Care - The New Normal
- Event
07.16.2020
Webinar | Annual Required Notices 2020
- Event
06.25.2020
Webinar | Paycheck Protection Program- Q & A Town Hall
- Event
06.17.2020
Webinar | Financial Wellbeing: Essential to the Health of Your Employees
- Blog
06.17.2020
National Safety Month: Check Your Safety Lens with a safety perception survey
- Blog
06.16.2020
Connecting with Your Five Employee Demographics
- Event
05.21.2020
Webinar | COBRA 2020
- Event
05.19.2020
Webinar | Legal and Compliance Return to the Workplace: Considerations for Employers
- Event
04.30.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.30.20
- Blog
04.28.2020
Employee Mental Health: More Vulnerable Than Ever During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Blog
04.20.2020
Diversity and Inclusion and the Battle for Talent
- Event
04.16.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.16.20
- Event
04.09.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.9.20
- Event
04.02.2020
Webcast | Update on COVID-19: Navigating the Coronavirus and Managing the Impact
- Event
03.30.2020
WEBCAST | Employee Benefits & 401K Compliance During The Coronavirus Outbreak
- Event
03.24.2020
Webinar | Navigating the Coronavirus and Managing the Impact
- Event
03.12.2020
Webinar | The Power of Food
- Blog
02.06.2020
AD&D: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
- Event
01.23.2020
Seminar | Employment Law Landscape 2020
- Blog
01.16.2020
Employee Health & Benefits 2020 and Beyond
- Event
12.19.2019
Webinar | Year End Checklist and Future Forecast
- Blog
12.09.2019
Employee Benefits and Perks – Life Science Industry Raises The Bar
- Blog
12.05.2019
Financial Wellness
- Blog
12.03.2019
Building the Foundation for a Successful Implementation
- Event
11.21.2019
Webinar | ACA Reporting Requirements
- Blog
11.05.2019
Before the Turn of the Decade: Important Reminders Regarding Employee Benefits
- Event
10.17.2019
Webinar | Health Savings Accounts
- Blog
10.07.2019
4 Ways to Improve Open Enrollment
- Event
09.19.2019
Webinar | New HRA Options
- Event
09.12.2019
Webinar | New Developments with HRAs and 2020
- Blog
09.10.2019
5 Employee Wellness Initiatives That Work
- Event
08.15.2019
Webinar | Association Health Plans
- Blog
08.02.2019
Podcast | Choosing Your Broker
- Blog
08.01.2019
Wearable Health Care Technology: Fashion Fad or the Future?
- Event
07.18.2019
Webinar | Annual Required Notices 2019
- News
06.21.2019
MMA Midwest Named Second Largest Dayton-Area Employee Benefits Company
- Event
06.20.2019
Webinar | Mid-Year Compliance Review
- Blog
06.20.2019
A New Era of Employee-Centric Work Perks
- Event
05.29.2019
Seminar | Pharmacy - Everyone's talking about it, but what can I do?
- Event
05.16.2019
Webinar | Wellness Programs
- Blog
04.26.2019
Massachusetts Releases New Guidance and Employee Notice Template For Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
- Event
04.25.2019
Webinar | Total Worker Health
- Event
04.18.2019
Webinar | HIPAA Privacy & Security Training
- Blog
04.11.2019
April is National Wellness Month
- Blog
04.11.2019
Approaching Healthcare Benefits Strategically
- Event
03.21.2019
Webinar | Federal Continuation Coverage
- Blog
03.15.2019
Five Ways Employee Benefits Are Advantageous for Smaller Businesses
- Event
02.21.2019
Webinar | FMLA & Employee Benefits
- Event
01.29.2019
Employment Law Landscape 2019
- Event
01.17.2019
Webinar: ACA Reporting Requirements
- Blog
01.16.2019
Understanding the Changes to Minnesota’s Whistleblower Act
- Blog
01.10.2019
2019: What to Expect in Employee Health & Benefits
- Event
12.20.2018
Webinar | 2018 Year in Review & Future Benefits Forecast
- Blog
12.20.2018
Making a List and Checking It Twice
- Event
12.14.2018
Webinar | Q4 2018 Health Care Reform Update
- Blog
12.12.2018
Can Telemedicine Make Health Care Benefits Healthier?
- Blog
12.03.2018
Employment Law Update: Minimum Wage Keeps Climbing
- Blog
11.29.2018
IRS Increase Health FSA Contribution Limit for 2019 & Adjusts Other Benefit Limits
- News
11.29.2018
Engaging Your Employees Requires Your Own Engagement
- Event
11.20.2018
Webinar | Back to Basics: Consumer-Based Plans 101
- Blog
11.08.2018
Four Steps Employers Can Take to Help Alleviate the Opioid Crisis
- Blog
11.02.2018
Compliance Update: HRAs Poised For a Facelift
- Blog
11.02.2018
Build a Positive Workplace Culture That Promotes Honest Communication
- Event
10.18.2018
Webinar | Annual Required Notices
- Event
10.12.2018
Webinar | Q3 2018 Health Care Reform Update
- Blog
10.09.2018
IRS Releases Final 2018 ACA Reporting Forms and Instructions
- Blog
10.05.2018
What are the Government's Plans to Solve the Opioid Problem?
- Event
09.18.2018
The Opioid Epidemic: A Public Health Crisis
- Blog
09.17.2018
Is Marijuana the Answer to the Opioid Addiction Problem?
- Blog
09.12.2018
Compliance Update: Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Under the Affordable Care Act
- Blog
09.11.2018
2018 Stop-Loss Survey
- Event
09.06.2018
Webinar | Association Health Plans
- Blog
09.06.2018
Rule #1 For Effective Open Enrollment: Start Early
- Blog
08.21.2018
Tobacco: Still Affecting Businesses’ Financial Health
- Blog
08.17.2018
Open Enrollment: Ways to Control Costs
- Event
08.16.2018
Webinar | Surviving a DOL Audit
- Blog
08.07.2018
Open Enrollment: The Benefits of Smarter Communications
- Blog
08.06.2018
The Opioid Crisis: Using Alternative Approaches to Manage Pain
- Blog
07.25.2018
Is An EAP Worth The Investment?
- Blog
06.29.2018
The DOL's New Association Health Plan Rules and What They Actually Mean
- Event
06.21.2018
Webinar | 2018 Mid-Year Compliance Update
- Blog
05.30.2018
The Opioid Crisis: A Serious Societal and Business Issue
- Blog
12.27.2017
Employee Benefits in 2018
- Blog
10.13.2017
Telemedicine and HSAs
- Blog
10.06.2017
Data Breach Risks During Annual Enrollment
- Blog
09.26.2017
Annual Enrollment
- Event
03.14.2017
The Future of Health Care & Employee Benefits