HEALTHY EMPLOYEES AND
ABSENTEEISM
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
101C (Ocean Center)
Stephen Berry, LYNX - Orlando
Rob Gregg, CUTR – USF/Tampa
Supported by
Center for Urban Transportation Research
Florida Operations
Network
http://www.transitoperations.org/
Please Identify the
Happy / Healthy Transit Employee
A
B
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When you are Healthy and Happy:
Impact on Work?

Attendance

Less Stress

Attitude

Focus

Morale

Friendly

Motivation

Productivity

Alertness

Camaraderie

Reduction of at Risk

Career Longevity
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Why Driver Health is Important
Drivers are the largest number of
employees in public
transportation organizations
• Healthy drivers support the
retention and long term careers
• Absenteeism adds significant costs
to operation budgets. It consumes
time and resources in terms of
organization and service delivery
•
Some Statistics
Passenger transit workers* are more likely to have several
diseases:
• 79 % higher chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)
• 70 % higher lower extremity vascular problems
• 63 % higher diabetes
• 37 % higher carpal tunnel syndrome
• 32 % higher asthma
• 29 % higher shoulder problems
• 28 % higher blood pressure
• 25% higher depression
• 23 % higher cardiovascular problems
• 19 % higher low back pain
• 13 % higher gastrointestinal problems
*includes all types of bus drivers, as well as commuter rail, streetcar, subway, van pool, airport limousine, taxi, and ambulance drivers
Source: Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies
Health Targets

Lack of Physical Activity

Unhealthy Diet

Uncontrolled Hypertension

Obesity

Uncontrolled Diabetes

Stress

Poor Back Care

Drug / Alcohol Use

High Cholesterol

Fatigue
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Transit Cooperative Research Program: Transit Operator Health and Wellness Programs
Health Risk
Contributing Factors
•
Sitting position for several hours
•
Limited opportunities to eat
•
Limited opportunities to use the restroom
•
Conflicting task demands
•
Stress from traffic
•
Stress from customer service
•
Low Autonomy and Support (limited
connection to Management)
Ways to Improve Driver Health
•
•
•
Ergonomics of the driver area
Driving shift
Supervision
Make it easier for bus drivers to
be healthy (Best Practices)
Ergonomics
•
Position and adjustment of seat
•
Steering wheel and pedals
•
Visibility and marking of the dashboard
•
Adjustability for larger and smaller drivers
•
Adequate training (when introducing new
bus models)
Scheduling
•
Consistent schedule
•
Adequate periods of rest between
shifts
•
Forward rotation of shifts (e.g.
morning shift, day shift, night
shift)
•
Two days off in a row
Work Environment/ Management
•
Division of drivers into working
groups with assigned supervisor
•
Supportive style leadership where
drivers have a point of management
contact for voicing concerns and
learning about new management
initiatives
Best Practices
•
Wellness Programs
•
Onsite Exercise Equipment
•
Healthy lunch options near driver breakrooms
•
Agency sponsored activities (e.g. sports)
•
Incentive programs (e.g. gift certificates)
HART – Hillsborough County
•
•
•
•
•
•
On-site fitness room with classes (e.g.
Zumba & Yoga)
Wellness club with incentives
Exercise events (e.g. 5k Area Walks,
Dodgeball Volleyball)
Biometric screening (lower rates on
premiums)
Online coaching through Cigna
Group weight loss program
HART Wellness Club
•
Holds several health events and classes a
year
◦
◦
◦
◦
Digital Scavenger Hunt
Volleyball dodgeball
Healthy Lunch Event
Financial Seminar
◦
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◦
◦
Stress
Diabetes
Colon Cancer
Preventive Health
•
Participants earn points for attendance
•
Points can be redeemed at the Wellness
Store for prizes (e.g. LCD TV or Grill)
RTS- Gainesville
Shares program with the city of Gainesville:
•
Multiple employee exercise facilities in
the city
•
Pro club offers points for fitness, lifestyle
choices, and annual health assessment;
points reduce premiums
•
Offers disease awareness programs
•
Information on exercise and nutrition

RTS Gainesville
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RTS Gainesville
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MCAT- Manatee County
The Your Choice Manatee Health Plan:
•
Pays for employee gym memberships
•
Programs are offered in weightless, tobacco
cessation, nutrition, diabetes prevention, mental
health, and fitness
•
Participating employees earn health bucks to use
towards medical visits/ prescriptions
•
The program offers access to several preventive
healthcare professionals including: Health
Coaches, Nurse advocates, personal trainers, and
nutritionists
Manatee Your Choice
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Space Coast Transit•
Spring and Fall Health Fairs – which include
free biometric screening
•
Weight Watchers and weight loss challenges
•
On-site gym open early till late
•
Discounts at several local gym memberships
•
Classes in smoking cessation, healthy eating
and exercise
•
Free flu shots during open enrollment
•
Mini-health fairs that start early for our
employees
Wellness Program ROI
•
Johnson and Johnson conducted a study
(2002-2008)
• Determined for every $ 1 dollar invested $2.71 are saved
•
Another Study of 185 high health risk
employees at a single employer (Milani
and Lavie)
•
57% of high risk employees went to low risk
•
$ 1,421 saved per participant on average
were
•
$6 ROI per $1 spent
Improved Attendance
•
•
•
•
•
MD Anderson Cancer Center created a workers’
compensation and injury care unit within its
employee health and well-being department,
staffed by a physician and a nurse case
manager. Within Six years:
Lost work days declined by 80%
Modified-duty days reduced by 64%.
Workers’ comp insurance premiums declined
by 50%.
Cost savings totaled $1.5 million (reduction in
lost work days multiplied by average pay
rates)
Benefits for Employee
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increased well-being, self-image, and self-esteem
Improved coping skills with stress or other factors
affecting health
Improved health status
Lower costs for acute health issues
Lower out of pocket costs for health care services
(e.g. reduced premiums; deductibles; copayments)
Increased access to health promotion resources
and social support
Improved job satisfaction
Safer and more supportive work environment
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Wellness Programs: What are
the general steps for
implementing a program?
1.
Establish the goal of the wellness program.
2.
Decide the company’s level of involvement in the
program.
3.
Establish the budget and expected return on
investment (ROI).
4.
Choose employee rewards.
5.
Write and communicate the policy/program.
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How can a wellness program
benefit employers?
Wellness programs can benefit employers by:

Lowering health care costs.

Reducing absenteeism.

Achieving higher employee productivity.

Reducing workers’ compensation and
disability-related costs.

Reducing injuries.
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Stephen Berry
Manager of Transportation Operations