Use of a Normal Impairment Factor in Quantifying Avoidable Productivity Loss Because of Poor Health

OBJECTIVE: Growing evidence demonstrates a relationship between excess health risk and preventable productivity loss. There is a need to quantify how much lost productivity is avoidable through employer-sponsored health management interventions. This study introduced the Normal Impairment Factor (NIF) to recognize the amount of productivity loss that cannot be mitigated through health management interventions. METHODS: A health assessment questionnaire was administered to 772,750 employees, representing 106 employers within five industry sectors. Researchers used multivariate regression procedures to examine the association between preventable health risks and self-reported productivity loss. RESULTS: Back pain, mental well being, and stress risk were the strongest predictors of on-the-job productivity loss. A strong association was also detected between the number of health risks and productivity loss ranging from 3.4% for those at lowest risk (the NIF group) to 24.0% loss for those at risk for eight risks. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the utility of the NIF in estimating the level of productivity loss that cannot be regained through health management interventions.