Wellbeing in the Workplace - By the Numbers

This week I am following up on a few of the statistics that were discussed in the client letter from last week. Below are several graphics that demonstrate the lack of well-being in the workplace and the people who can be affected by it. 

An estimated 7% of employer health-related costs can be attributed to absenteeism, and another 58% to “presenteeism”—the act of attending work while sick—according to SHRM data. This totals a potential 65% of health-related costs that are directly connected to the well-being of workers (see Figure 1).

Employees who are dissatisfied with their workplace are more likely to call in sick: 35% of those who are dissatisfied called in sick four or more days per year versus only 13% of those who are satisfied (see Figure 2).

Functionality, comfort, and adjustability of furniture showed particular relationships to employees’ reported level of energy at work. Air quality, noise, and natural light also influenced energy levels and showed direct relationships to the likelihood of employees calling in sick (see Figures 2 and 3).

Designing for the ends of the spectrum can and will ultimately include those with hidden disabilities which can affect more than 95% of individuals (see Figure 4).

Mental health disorders account for several of the top causes of disability in established market economies, such as the U.S., worldwide, and include major depression (also called clinical depression), manic depression (also called bipolar disorder), schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older -- about 1 in 4 adults -- suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year (see Figure 5).

Several factors in life have an impact on mental health and your office—where you spend most of your time—is one of them. Designing for a healthier workplace can reduce the effects of these factors (see Figure 6).