Bad eating habits and poor nutrition could be causing absence management and productivity problems for employers across the UK, new research suggests.
In a study carried out by health and wellbeing consultant vielife, it was found that an estimated 12 million British workers could be reducing their ability to work effectively by not eating enough healthy food.
A poll of over 40,000 employees found that only one out of ten people eat the recommended six portions of fibre per day and fewer than one in five people manage to eat their five portions of fruit and vegetables.
And respondents with poor nutrition scores reported 50 per cent more sickness absence (4.8 days a year per employee on average) than those with healthier diets (3.2 days), the study found.
It calculated that this costs the average UK organisation an extra 576 days in staff absences for every 1,000 people employed.
Furthermore, people with poor nutritional balance report being 15 per cent less productive than those with good nutritional balance, which is equal to a difference of 2.8 hours of work per week, or for a 46 working week year, 16 days of lost productive time per employee.
Those with unhealthy eating habits were also found to be more likely to suffer from stress and less satisfied in their job.
While there may not be much employers can do about their workers’ eating habits at home, using staff scheduling software to ensure they have adequate lunch and break times to eat a proper meal, and making sure healthy food is provided by on-site canteens, could help make an important difference.
Tony Massey, vielife’s chief medical officer, commented: “UK firms cannot afford to ignore the impact of nutrition attrition which is not only rivalling but also contributing to rises in other big personal and work life issues like sleep and stress.”
