Should Employers Incentivise Healthier Living?

Posted on May 5, 2016

Should employers encourage drinkers and smokers to cut down?

Steve Wallace says:

“If it affects productivity, quality, health & safety of colleagues or reputation of the company, it’s gone too far!”

For an employer, there is probably little difference in productivity and attendance between someone who drinks 21 units a week, has a glass of wine with dinner and a couple of pints at the weekend, and someone who is teetotal. When employees come into work regularly with a hangover, however, or can’t get through the day without a lunchtime pub trip, employers should be concerned.

Most smokers would probably argue that though smoking might kill them in the long run, it doesn’t have the same impact on performance at work as alcohol. While this might seem a valid argument on the face of it, there is some evidence that smokers can be less efficient and have higher absence levels than non-smokers.

Should Employers Incentivise Healthier Living?

The government are considering ways to encourage people to take better care of their health. Do you think employers should think of ways to incentivise healthier living?

Would you be willing to lose pounds to gain pounds?

Are there other ways to encourage people to take better care of their health?

Do you think offering money as an incentive to improve health is cost-effective for the NHS or would the money be better spent elsewhere?

Have your say; do you think employers should encourage drinkers and smokers to cut down?

Let us know your thoughts via [email protected] or our ChatBox!