"This study tests the hypothesis that employees with comorbid physical health conditions and mental health symptoms are less productive than other employees. Self-reported health status and productivity measures were collected from 1723 employees of a national retail organization. chi(2), analysis of variance, and linear contrast analyses were conducted to evaluate whether health status groups differed on productivity measures," scientists writing in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine report (see also Mental Health).

"Multivariate linear regression and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze how predictive health status was of productivity. Those with comorbidities were significantly less productive on all productivity measures compared with all other health status groups and those with only physical health conditions or mental health symptoms. Health status also significantly predicted levels of employee productivity," wrote K.M. Parker and colleagues, University of Georgia.

The researchers concluded: "These findings provide evidence for the relationship between health statuses and productivity, which has potential programmatic implications. (J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51:1137-1144)."

Parker and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Association of Comorbid Mental Health Symptoms and Physical Health Conditions With Employee Productivity. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2009;51(10):1137-1144).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting K.M. Parker, University of Georgia, Workpl Health Group, Dept. of Health Promotion & Behavioral, College Public Health, Ramsey Center, Room 221, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

The publisher of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.