Free Essay

Employee Health Behaviors

In: Business and Management

Submitted By sunshine7
Words 933
Pages 4
The impact of employee personal health behaviors can affect health care costs, job performance, and productivity. There are several ways organizations can attempt to tackle poor health habits of employees. The challenge for employers, however, resides in staying within legal and ethical boundaries when addressing such issues as obesity and smoking. Regulation of employee lifestyles by employers is becoming a more prevalent issue, but laws regarding this practice vary by jurisdiction. Organizations can protect themselves from legal trouble and ethical issues by implementing constructive programs aimed at improving the health of their workforces rather than engaging in discriminatory practices against overweight employees and smokers.
Weight discrimination can be an issue in any industry so it is important that managers are aware of the laws regulating such practices. Obesity is a health problem and some employers assume that overweight employees will incur more illness-related absences and contribute to higher health care costs. Research shows that overweight employees are more likely to be subjected to discrimination in terms of hiring, treatment, and retention (Roehling, 2002, p. 177). While most states do not have laws protecting workers from discrimination based on weight per se, some protection is afforded under the Americans with Disabilities Act, where a certain level of obesity is considered an actual disability (p. 181). In addition to employment protection, if an individual qualifies as disabled, the employer must take necessary steps to provide reasonable accommodation of that person so he or she can perform their job (p. 180).
Because laws vary and the disability status of an individual is decided on a case-by case basis, it is prudent for employers to take necessary steps to avoid weight discrimination in the workplace. Some methods include modifying the organization’s non-discrimination policy to include obese and overweight employees, as well as providing anti-discrimination training (Crowder, 2010, p. 43). If employers wish to address the issue of obesity in the workforce, there are proactive and constructive options organizations can employ which do not present ethical and legal issues. Employee fitness programs are one such option. Research shows that employee fitness programs not only aid in improving physical health, but can help reduce stress, absenteeism, and lateness (Falkenberg, 1987, p. 518). General health and well-being programs are another way to improve the general wellness of a company’s workforce. Research suggests that programs like these tend to attract and retain more health-conscious employees (DeGroot & Kiker, 2003, p. 64).
Smoking is another industry-wide health issue that can lead to medical problems and higher health care costs. Several studies show that smokers are more likely to be absent than non-smokers and smokers take longer to recuperate from illnesses (Lecker, 2009, p. 48).
There are several ways to tackle the workplace smoking problem. Some are safer, ethically and legally, than others. Voluntary smoking cessation programs are the least intrusive of the options. Other methods include smoking bans on company property, anti-smoker hiring practices, and higher health insurance premiums for smokers (Lecker, 2009, p. 48). Companies have the right to chose whether or not they ban smoking on their own properties. It is necessary, however, to consider the rights of non-smokers in that decision, as second-hand smoke can be the basis of legal claims (Tomkowicz & Lessack, 2006, p. 60). Further, some instances have occurred where non-smoking employees complain about the amount of time smokers spend taking breaks and they demand that same amount of time for non-work-related activities (Lecker, 2009, p. 48).
The legality of denying employment to those who smoke differs from state to state. The majority of states have enacted laws protecting the rights of smokers to smoke outside of working hours (Lecker, 2009, p. 53). Some, like Michigan, however, have adopted policies allowing the hiring or firing of employees based on their off-duty tobacco use (p. 53). Clearly, if a workplace resides in a state that protects the rights of smokers to use nicotine outside of work, the organization needs to comply. In states where no laws exist, making hiring or firing decisions based on tobacco use can still pose legal or ethical troubles as lifestyle discrimination is still a gray area in employment law.
For information about weight discrimination as it applies to the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers can consult the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Web site. For information on smoking policies, employers should follow state guidelines in order to avoid potential lawsuits. Employers can also utilize scholarly journals, such as the Journal of Business Ethics, to research and assess the moral complications with addressing employee lifestyle choices.
References
Crowder, C. L. (2010). Avoiding discrimination against overweight workers. Employment Relations Today, 36(4), Retrieved August 10, 2011, from Business Source Complete.
DeGroot, T., & Kiker, D. (2003). A meta-analysis of the non-monetary effects of employee health management programs. Human Resource Management, 42(1). Retrieved August 9, 2011, from Business Source Complete.
Falkenberg, L. E. (1987). Employee fitness programs: Their impact on the employee and the organization. Academy of Management Review, 12(3). Retrieved August 9, 2011, from Business Source Complete.
Lecker, M. (2009). The smoking penalty: Distributive justice or smokism? Journal of Business Ethics, 84. Retrieved August 9, 2011, from Business Source Complete.
Roehling, M. V. (2002). Weight discrimination in the American workplace: Ethical issues and analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 40(2). Retrieved August 9, 2011, from Business Source Complete.
Tomkowicz, S. M., & Lessack, S. K. (2006). Where there's smoke: Employer policies on smoking. Employee Relations Law Journal, 32(3). Retrieved August 9, 2011, from Business Source Complete.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Nurse

...The challenges and strategies for improving the national health as a whole will be to , increase the quality of individual life by making awareness and motivation to acquire knowledge over health .reduce and eliminate the disparities in the people that includes race , gender , ethnicity ,income and disability. The changes and policy strategies are designed to target whole national’s health rather than individuals by modifying physical and organizational strctures.example of such modification includes enhancing opportunities to engage in physical activity by providing onsite facilities for exercises. The educational and informational strategies attempt to build the knowledge to inform the necessity of optimal health practice. Information and learning experiences voluntary adaptations towards conductive behavior of health. This can be done by providing information in internet, posters, pamphlets, health and nutrition software’s and providing information regarding healthy diet and exercise. Behavioral and social strategies will influence the behaviors indirectly by targeting individual’s awareness, self – efficacy, perceived support and interntions.this can include social environment to provide support for the people to maintain weight changes. Such interventions can involve group behavioral counseling. The Vision of healthy people 2020: “A society in which all people live long , Healthy lives “, So the barriers to health service includes lack of availability, Increased cost, lack...

Words: 2526 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Passport 8

...Student Resource Passport to Class: Name___ ________ Foundations for Effective Leadership and Management Module 16: Quality Control, Safety, Performance Appraisal and Problem Employees Required Reading: Marquis, B.L. & Huston, C.J. (2015). Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing: Theory and Application, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. Chapters 23, 24 & 25 Recommended Reading: Institute of Medicine (1999). To Err is Human: Building A Safer Health System. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press | | Student Response | Objectives | Discuss concepts of quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement. Chapter 23 | Discuss the following:Quality control - refers to activities that are used to evaluate, monitor, or regulate services rendered to consumers.Quality Assurance - Quality assurance models seek to ensure that quality currently exists.Quality Improvement - assume that the process is ongoing and quality can always be improvedDefine the following terminology * Critical Event Analysis – process used to determines discrepancies between care provided and unit standards. * Root Cause Analysis – process used to obtain further information regarding why the standard was not met. * Benchmark - the process of measuring products, practices, and services against best-performing organizations. A tool for identifying desired standards of organizational performance. * Standard -...

Words: 3368 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Smokism

...problems to many people in the United States. It has presented problems for those who choose to smoke as well as for those who do not. Many employers are allowed by law to ban smoking at the work place. Many employees won’t smoke at the workplace but will smoke off duty. Employers are closely monitoring employee’s lifestyle behaviors outside of the workplace. Employees are faced with many stresses as to what they can’t do outside of the workplace. Smoking outside of the work place has created tensions between anti-smoking employers, nonsmoking employees, and employees who do smoke. Many employers want to control and monitor the behaviors of employees who smoke during personal time away from work because of health insurance costs, frequent illnesses, and for the Maldonado 2 implementation of a healthier work place resulting in possible discrimination to employees civil rights. Although some employers may want to control employee behavior outside of the workplace, it may interfere with employees civil rights to privacy during personal time. Many employer’s reasons for not wanting employees to smoke outside of the workplace consist of increase in health insurance cost and the loss of workplace productivity. Privacy for employees is crucial to employees who smoke cigarettes. The privacy to smoke cigarettes outside the workplace...

Words: 1822 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Unethical Financial Penalties

...also races in dirt bike tournaments. An African American father adds salt to everything he eats. A farmer sprays his fields with fertilizer, but never wears a mask. A fifty-year old man working in a factory never sees a doctor also has a strong family history of cancer. Lifestyle choices carry health risks. Who is ultimately responsible for the costs of unhealthy lifestyle choices? Healthcare in America is threatened by rising health care costs and the increasing incidence and financial burden of chronic diseases. As employers, insurance companies, and the government seek to decrease these escalating costs, there is a concentration on individual health behavioral choices and the personal obligation of the individual to adopt healthy lifestyle choices. Within the framework of health care reform, there is a growing initiative by employers to impose financial health insurance penalties for unhealthy lifestyle choices. Financial penalties levied by employers and health insurance companies for unhealthy lifestyles are unethical targeting the most vulnerable and sick in our society. Employers and insurance companies have an argument for penalties based on the cost analysis of health expenditures on high risk populations such as smokers and obese...

Words: 2754 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Wellness Plan

...Developing an Organizational Employee Wellness Plan Sample Outline This outline is intended to be a starting point to guide state agencies in developing their own agency-specific wellness plan. The provided outline addresses specific points to consider in developing the agency plan, but each agency will need to add additional content to define adequately what and how each activity will be implemented in the agency. While the outline is presented in this format for ease of reading and brevity, a more narrative format is recommended to serve as the actual agency wellness plan. Additionally in some sections, such as Program Objectives and Program Content, the outline provides suggested objectives or program content for agencies to consider. In these sections, agency wellness planners may need to delete or add language to reflect agency-specific objectives and content. If you have any questions about the outline or developing your wellness plan, please contact: I. Program Purpose This voluntary program of formal and informal activities is designed to improve the health and well-being of all employees and reduce or eliminate health issues affecting employee health and work productivity. II. Program Objectives A. Primary Goal 1. The Employee Wellness Program will strive to increase the well-being and productivity of all employees by enhancing all aspects of health. The program seeks to increase awareness of positive health behaviors, to motivate employees to...

Words: 1575 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Organizational Change and Employees’ Behaviors

...Organizational Change and Employees’ Behaviors Abstract Organizational change can affect employees’ attitudes and behaviors in the workplace. Being able to recognize the types of changes and how employees are affected will better help a company in the process of a change gain a better workplace environment. Organizational Change and Employees’ Behaviors Organizational change is something that occurs most often in today’s business world. Organizational change can affect employees’ attitudes and behaviors in the workplace. Being able to recognize the types of changes and how employees are affected will better help a company in the process of a change gain a better workplace environment. The following research and studies are all based on employees’ and organizational change. Research that Shin, Taylor, & Seo (2012) based their paper on states that involvement in planned organizational change is a long, emotionally intense, stressful, and fatiguing process for most employees. The findings from the research they have done were that intense negative emotions experienced by most employees during organizational change lead them to become change averse and reluctant to enact supportive behaviors directed at achieving goals set by organizations’ leaders. One argument they had was that one way to boost and sustain employees’ commitment to change is to build up their individual resources prior to the start of a change process. Those individual resources then...

Words: 844 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Employee Health & Safety

...Running head: Employee Safety & Health Course No: BUS 601 Course Name: Human Resource Management Course Teacher: M Khasro Miah (Ph.D) Submitted By: Muhammad Ashikujjaman-1211023090 Mohammed Makbul Hossain-1120524090 Md. Taslim Hossain-1130305090 Kawsar Jahan (1030657090) Abstract Considers the role of employee representation in improving health and safety performance within small enterprises. Focuses on an approach to employee participation through regional health and safety representatives and provides an analysis of the factors necessary to ensure their effectiveness, based on Bangladesh. Identifies and analyses the challenges presented by small enterprises in light of evidence from existing evaluation of regional representative schemes. Identifies and discusses supportive factors that might enhance representative participation in health and safety in small enterprises, including the role of regulation, and employer and trade union support. Considers the implications of the Health and Safety (Consultation of Employees) Regulations and concludes that in their present form they offer only very limited support for employee representation in health and safety in small enterprises. Keywords: [Click here to add keywords.] Table of Contents Why Safety is Important for organizational development in Bangladesh 8 Management’s Role in safety 9 1. Design safer systems of work: 9 2. Exhibit commitment: 9 3. Inspect the workplace: 10 4. Establish procedures and controls:...

Words: 7635 - Pages: 31

Premium Essay

Human Resources Benefits Insurance

...business from performance management, insurance, compensation and benefits, training and development, employee relations, retention, and health and safety, involve also in hiring and firing of employee from what positions full time to part time packets in intake and outtake of employment of a business. The Human Resource manager typically plays three roles in an organization. These Human Resource manager roles are advisor, service, and control. Human Resource Management department involved in insurance compensation and benefits has evolved from small, medium, large and to the huge corporations have Human Resource managers and/or department have been evolving with the time from very simple to more complex benefit packages for their employees and play an important part of it is use as retention to keep employees. Human Resources Benefits- Insurance Human Resources management is the compensation and benefits are developing and maintaining a wage/salary structure, as well as a benefit system, Human Resources management department is responsible for ensuring that compensation and benefits are competitive, fair and motivating. Human Resources benefits are in insurances from health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance, and other benefits loss control, retention, pensions, risk transfer, risk avoidance, and employee education. Business owner or owners, CEO, CFO, Controller, Human Resources...

Words: 4544 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Organizational Behavior in Health Care Management

...Organizational Behavior in Health Care Management Name Institution Date Abstract This paper seeks to look into organizational behavior in health care management and most importantly its impact on health care management and delivery. Organization behavior is crucial in guiding the regulatory activities, the staff activities and the overall culture that directs an organization. Organizational behavior in health care setting is paramount to ensuring patient safety, ethical behavior among the medical practitioners, patient-centered care and effecting change in the facilities which is bound to improve healthcare delivery and patients’ satisfaction. The strategic management of any health care organizations is linked to incorporate effective practices and standards that are obliged to improve health care services delivery and nurture a positive organizational culture to improve the delivery of services and maintain highly qualified and motivated medical personnel that will ensure professionalism and efficiency in the facility. Organizational Behavior in Health Care Management Introduction Organizational behavior refers to the study of personal and group dynamics with relations to relations and interactions within a corporate setting (Borkowski, 2016, p.1). The manner and mode of interactions between individuals and groups of people in an organization affect the way in which an organization...

Words: 3637 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Organizational Behavior in Health Care Management

...Organizational Behavior in Health Care Management Name Institution Date Abstract This paper seeks to look into organizational behavior in health care management and most importantly its impact on health care management and delivery. Organization behavior is crucial in guiding the regulatory activities, the staff activities and the overall culture that directs an organization. Organizational behavior in health care setting is paramount to ensuring patient safety, ethical behavior among the medical practitioners, patient-centered care and effecting change in the facilities which is bound to improve healthcare delivery and patients’ satisfaction. The strategic management of any health care organizations is linked to incorporate effective practices and standards that are obliged to improve health care services delivery and nurture a positive organizational culture to improve the delivery of services and maintain highly qualified and motivated medical personnel that will ensure professionalism and efficiency in the facility. Organizational Behavior in Health Care Management Introduction Organizational behavior refers to the study of personal and group dynamics with relations to relations and interactions within a corporate setting (Borkowski, 2016, p.1). The manner and mode of interactions between individuals and groups of people in an organization affect the way in which an organization...

Words: 3637 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Merger Memo

...Soderberg-Beck University of Phoenix Author Note: This paper is being submitted on January 30, 2015, for Dr. Kale Kruger’s HCS/514 Managing in Today’s Health Care Organizations course. Merger Memo MEMORANDUM TO: All Employees FROM: Management Team DATE: January 30, 2015 SUBJECT: Healthcare International Organization Merger CC: Leadership Team In response to the recent merging of Healthcare International and Care Alliance Health Systems, the management teams of both medical facilities has come together to write a memo on the merger and the effect that it will have within our new organization. Our organization will now be called Care Alliance International Systems. This memo will discuss how the merger will affect our organizational culture (on products and services), how organizational behavior affects overall quality, and how organizational behavior affects competition and human relations. In addition to that, this memo will review how job design, work processes, and performance expectations effect our organization. Lastly, this memo will discuss how the management team will ensure the success of the new Care Alliance International systems. Organizational Culture: Care Alliance Health Systems is dedicated to providing a healthy culture within our facilities so that we may maintain our spirit of excellence with our customer service. There are several impacts...

Words: 1953 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Training and Development Paper

...and job seekers often ask why education is important with respect to one’s career, particularly in the healthcare industry. It has also been asked by others how education can make a difference in ones everyday life as well the impact education has on an individual life long career. The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections between education and training and why they are important in health care. It will also describe the process for tracking and evaluating training effectiveness and the importance of measuring competencies. The main goal of training and education in health care is to encourage a positive outlook in the health behavior of individuals and committees as well as living and working conditions that influence their health. Training and development education is designed to increase development of the skills, health knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of an individual group, employees, or community. Health education is important because it improves the health status of individuals, families, communities, states, and the nation. By focusing on prevention, health education reduces the costs that individuals, employers, families, and communities would spend on medical treatment. Training is learning by doing and is very likely to improve ones job performance. Trained employees are an asset to every company because it enhances growth and problem solving. There are many ways to assist employees in enhancing their performance in the work place, but it...

Words: 491 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Domestic Violence

...an outcome (Boudreau and Cascio, 2011, p. 145). Job satisfaction is a willing to get involve in programs that will help make the organization successful. With job satisfaction there is the energy to come to work and perform with the highest job performance. Job satisfaction also secures job stability and helps reduce cost in turnover ratio. Engagement is a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption (Boudreau and Cascio, 2011, p. 145). Engagement in an organization helps find ways to reduce cost. With engagement, there is a dedication to be involved in the organization success through customer satisfaction, productivity, quality, safety, and cost. Pay fairness and employee outcomes: Exacerbation and attenuation effects of financial need Shaw, Jason D; Gupta, Nina. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 74 (Sep 2001): 299-320. Pay is arguably one of the most critical, if not the most critical, outcome of organizational membership for employees (Gupta & Shaw, 1998). Actual pay and people's attitudes about it are the subject of much research (Lawler & Jenkins, 1992; Miceli & Lane, 1991) but, over the decades, the vast majority of studies concentrated on the precursors of different kinds of pay attitudes(e.g. perceptions of pay fairness, pay satisfaction, etc.) rather than on their consequences (Heneman, 1985). In...

Words: 1789 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Gieco

...ABSENTEEISM AND TARDINESS An employee, who misses work, even part of a day, is expensive for an employer. The company frequently must pay for those unproductive hours—for example, by providing sick pay to an employee who calls in sick. In addition, the other employees may be less productive when they have to cover for someone who is absent or tardy. A recent survey found that absenteeism cost employers an average of $645 per employee in 2003. The company provides sick days for good reasons: to allow employees to rest and recover and to prevent them from infecting the rest of the workforce. Recent research indicates that absenteeism is associated with physical health stressors, including being diagnosed with a heart condition, being diagnosed with a chronic condition, and being hospitalized. It is important to note that psychological health stressors (e.g., depression, anxiety) were not significantly associated with absenteeism. Rather, employees seeking mental health treatment for psychological health stressors were more likely to show up for work even when a sickness absence was justified. In other words, employees seeking mental health treatment were more likely to work under suboptimal conditions. Whatever the cause of absenteeism, problems arise when absences are unexcused or recur with suspicious regularity. In addition, missing work is often a sign of a deeper problem, such as a family, anger about something at work, or plans to leave the organization. People have to realize...

Words: 1070 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Job Satifaction in the Workplace

...Jefferson University MGMT 304: Management and Organizational Theory in Health Services Organizations Facilitator: Maryann Hughes 2015 Abstract A broad definition of Job Satisfaction is a positive feeling about a job resulting from evaluating its characteristics. Satisfaction often plays a significant role in job performance, overall behavior, customer service and employee turnover. Job Satisfaction also can impact your quality of life and may impact those around you. It is important to understand the effects of job satisfaction on an organization, the satisfaction of its employees will affect many facets of the business. Importance of Job Satisfaction Job Satisfaction is defined as a positive feeling about a job resulting from an evaluation of its characteristics. (Robbins, Judge 2009 p.83) An employee should have interest in the particular job they do and should feel engaged with the organization. This will allow the company to keep employees satisfied and will be rewarded with lower turnover rates. While many jobs are repetitive and may become mundane to the employee, a company must find a way to challenge the boredom and seek ways to expand on the employees talents. Allowing an employee to grow and feel challenged is important when striving for job satisfaction. There is however, a balance needed, if an employee is pushed too hard they may feel overwhelmed. In an instance like this, the employee will search for another position that offers the financial security he...

Words: 2110 - Pages: 9