Today’s Workplace: How Your Health May Affect Your Job

Today’s employers are doing everything they can to help their employees make healthier lifestyle choices through various disease management and wellness programs. On the one hand, they are taking heed to what research continues to reveal. That is, by helping employees adopt a healthier lifestyle, organizations benefit big in areas related to productivity, profits, and health costs. On the other hand, though, companies are implementing or revising policies to address employees who suffer serious medical conditions and who are unable to return to work after a defined period of time.
Coach Collins, a renowned fitness consultant, offers her observations and insights surrounding an employer’s point of view. An excerpt of a dialogue betwee
Coach Collins and a group of co-workers will help you relate to and understand your responsibility to implement and maintain healthier lifestyle habits.

“Coach, I’m trying to get my co-workers motivated about implementing healthier lifestyle habits,” Olivia stressed. An accountant for a local governmental agency, Olivia wanted her co-workers to explore their options for and focus their attention on eating healthier and exercising. After sharing how small lifestyle changes had improved her blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels she took a moment to introduce her co-workers to Coach Collins: Valerie, the purchasing specialist; Maya, a program manager; Carol, a courts manager; and Monica, an attorney. “You did such an outstanding job sharing some insightful facts about living healthier at my sorority meeting last month that I wanted you to come and do the same for my co-workers.”

“Thank you. I’m happy to be here today,” Coach Collins acknowledged.

“Linda, one of our co-workers in the IT department was terminated last week. All throughout her tenure with the company she was praised for her outstanding work and was considered one of the organization’s most valuable employees,” Olivia stated.

Interrupting abruptly, Carol said, “Linda has had multiple bouts with cancer over the past three years: breast, lung and brain cancer.” Carol was noticeably having a difficult time containing her emotions. “During her initial illness (breast cancer) in 2006 and her lung cancer in 2007, our organization provided the federally mandated twelve weeks of family and medical leave. Based on our leave policy, she was also provided an additional ninety days of medical leave beyond the family and medical leave. In 2008, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. After Linda was unable to return to work after she exhausted all of her family and medical leave, she was terminated. Now, she’s on COBRA having to pay over $600 a month for her medical insurance. She will not be able to continue the COBRA payments much longer and she’s still undergoing treatments.”

“Linda’s story is a sad and an unfortunate situation. But, it could happen to any one of us,” Monica said, visibly worried. “I know it sounds like a belated honesty, but I know my lack of physical activity and my devotion to my mocha madness ice cream, two-piece fried chicken dinners, fried calamari, cheese raviloli, and blueberry muffins are all going to cause me to experience some health concerns sooner rather than later. A single parent of two, and age forty-four, I can’t afford to end up like Linda.”

“The impact of poor health on the workplace has become a major conce
in organizations. That’s why we’re seeing more and more company sponsored wellness programs,” Coach Collins stated. “Employees who are not practicing healthy lifestyle habits and who fail to meet the company half way by taking advantage of its programs may be risking their jobs. And I don’t mean to imply that Linda’s situation was the result of unhealthy lifestyle habits. We’re all predisposed for disease and illness. In some cases, even when we’re doing the right things, we end up facing a major illness.”

“At our company, employees who are routinely sick, absent from work, or are unable to perform their jobs at full capacity while at work are finding themselves in some precarious situations. Over the past year, I’ve noticed how our human resources department has revised policies that provide them with termination options once the family and medical leave obligation has been fulfilled,” Olivia commented.

“Linda was employed with our company for over fifteen years. She was a key factor in implementing our IT department; took the agency to the next level in technology systems,” Valerie stated.

“Employees are considered the backbone of the company. When an employee is unable to work, the company’s ability to deliver quality programs, services and/or products to its customers is impacted. As a consequence, the company’s grant funding or profits can be at stake,” Coach Collins stressed. “Your jobs require you to be at work everyday and to operate at peak levels of mental capacity. Medical conditions like diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, cancer, asthma, insomnia, obesity can affect your ability to be at work everyday or severely reduce your effectiveness while at work depending how well you manage your condition.”

“That’s why I’m ready to make some changes,” Monica announced. “I know there’s an increased chance I’ll be in a similar situation like Linda if I don’t make some changes.”

“I’ve recently been diagnosed with Lupus,” Maya acknowledged. “I’ve learned that eating healthier will be paramount to the management of my condition.”

“Absolutely,” Coach Collins stated.

“My cousin had a stroke several months ago,” Monica interjected. “Because she was unable to return to work after her family and medical ended she was terminated. Unfortunately her company didn’t have short-term disability and now she’s waiting for her long-term disability to start. Meanwhile, the bill collectors are calling. The medical bills are piling up…”

“It’s time people start to seriously consider how jobs are impacted by unhealthy habits. I must mention that it may not even be the employee with the medical condition, but a spouse, child, or parent instead. The point is that unhealthy habits, regardless of whether they are yours or others you’re obligated to can affect your ability to be at work everyday or severely reduce your effectiveness while at work. Today, I’m going to focus our attention on some things that will help you see exercise and food differently. Then, it’s my desire that you’ll focus your thoughts on some areas that may need attention.”

This health and fitness dialogue is provided for your consideration only. It is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about your specific health and fitness needs.

Fitness coach Bridgette Collins is the author of Destined to Live Healthier and Imagine Living Healthier. For general health and fitness questions, please feel free to visit www.BridgetteCollins.com or email Coach Collins at Bridgette@bridgettecollins.com.