REDUCE HEALTH CARE AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION COSTS
The problem:
- 15 percent of all injured workers generate 85% of all workers' compensation costs; 9% of these injured workers suffer from back problems; and up to 65% of all back injuries are related to psychological problems and/or mental stress.
- A University of Washington study of over 1,500 Boeing employees found that workers who reported high emotional stress are more than twice as likely to file a physical injury claim.
- Physicians see higher incidences of clinical depression in patients that suffer from chronic diseases. One-third of diabetics suffer from depression, and on average these patients generate 86% higher health care costs.
The solution:
- McDonnell Douglas Corporation saved $5 for every $1 spent on their EAP, with 85% of the cost offset the result of decreased medical claims. The estimate is conservative because it does not include replacement labor costs, recruiting, and training.
- Companies with employee benefit plans that have less restrictive employee access to outpatient mental health services experience psychiatric disability claim rates about four times lower than other employers.
- A study of nurses in Hong Kong found one of the potentials to prevent low back pain lies in facilitating work relations such as teambuilding exercises at the workplace.
