The Daily Stat from Harvard Business Review

 

April 13, 2015 A Hidden Contributor to U.S. Health Costs: Companies’ Mismanagement of Workers Health-care inefficiencies and poor lifestyle choices are often blamed for America’s high health costs, but what about workplace stressors such as job insecurity and low social support at work – do they have an impact? Yes: More than 120,000 deaths per year and 5% to 8% of health-care costs are associated with how U.S. companies manage (or mismanage) their workforces, according to an analysis by Joel Goh of Harvard Business School and Jeffrey Pfeffer and Stefanos A. Zenios of Stanford. Reducing stressors such as these could go a long way toward improving outcomes and reducing costs of U.S. health care, the researchers say. SOURCE: The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT Return on Character: The Real Reason Leaders and Their Companies Win HBR Paperback Book Does the character of our leaders matter? You may think this question was answered long ago. Countless experts have assured us that great leadership demands great character. Yet time and again, we've seen once-thriving organizations falter and fail under the guidance of leaders behaving badly. Why, then, do so many executives remain skeptical about the true value of leadership character? What’s been missing from this debate is hard evidence: data that shows not only that leadership character matters for organizational success, but how it matters; and concrete evidence that it leads to better business results. Now, in Return on Character, respected leadership researcher, adviser, and author Fred Kiel offers that evidence—solid data that demonstrates the connection between character, leadership excellence, and results. Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case Ebook + Tools HBR Press Book This enhanced eBook version of the HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case includes downloadable tools and templates to help you get started on your own case right away. You've got a great idea that will increase profitability or productivity – but how do you get approval for the budget and resources to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows your idea's value. Available exclusively through HBR.org. Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT

HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2015 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)