EMPLOYEES the world over are getting fatter, sicker and less productive and companies are paying dearly for it.

The fact is, sick employees not only hinder the productivity of the company, but rack up health insurance costs as well.

This pointed out by psychologist Dr Leachim Semaj Sunday at the third annual Ocean Spray Jamaica Wellfest at Hope Gardens in St Andrew. He was referring to a study conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

“Right here in Jamaica, we have more overweight people than hungry people. We have more work to do,” he told the gathering.

Dr Semaj, whose presentation was entitled, ‘Workplace Wellness: The Global Perspective, the Jamaican Reality’, said that when employees’ physical or psychological wellness needs are not met, it impacts negatively on a company’s bottom line.

In the United States, for example, job stress costs companies US$3 billion yearly according to the study. On the contrary, companies with wellness programmes see reductions in stress and general improvement in health among employees, resulting in lower turnover.

Semaj said companies are also currently trying to reduce “presenteeism” among employees – that is, diminished productivity by employees who go to work ill.

Quoting a line from an old R&B song – ‘Your body’s here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town’ – to illustrate the essence of presenteeism, Semaj said the condition can be caused by a number of factors including stress or chronic illness.

He said while Jamaican companies still have a long way to go to catch up with the 100 best employers in the world – who offer perks ranging from onsite doctors and laundry services to free gourmet food – there has been some improvement.

Jamaican companies have started to insist on a smoke-free environment, for example, and have started to offer child care services, employee assistance programmes, lunch and learn sessions, gym membership and sports or wellness clubs.