Companies in Thailand lose 73 days of productivity per employee each year due to health issues, study says

By The Nation

 

 

Organisations in Thailand are losing an average of 73 days of productive time per employee each year due to health-related absenteeism and employees who still work while ill, a survey by AIA Thailand has found.

 

The insurance company said in press release issued on Thursday that the lost time in Thailand compared to 49 days in Australia and 74 days in the Asian countries. The average yearly cost per organisation is estimated at Bt6,169,237.

 

The study also showed that poor lifestyle choices and mental health are issues for employees in Thailand, which can lower workplace productivity and increase the risk of developing a chronic condition. 

 

The study showed that 39 per cent of employees in Thailand surveyed do less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week, and 45 per cent sleep less than seven hours, compared to around 10 per cent and 27 per cent in Australia respectively. 

 

While just 1.2 per cent of employees in Thailand exceed recommended consumption limits of 14 units of alcohol per week (1 unit = 275-330 ml of beer or 100 ml. glass of wine) and almost 7 per cent are current smokers and more than 84 per cent of employees do not eat a balanced diet, the study said. 

 

The study involved 146 organisations, representing a combined workforce of 7,539 employees across Thailand, the company said.

 

As for mental health, the survey found that almost half of employees interviewed are suffering from at least one facet of work-related stress, 5 per cent of employees have high levels of anxiety or depressive symptoms, and 27 per cent of employees noted they had a lot of financial concerns.

 

Meanwhile, Thailand reported a lower percentage of employees than Australia and the Asian countries at risk in the area of clinical health. Just 7.3 per cent of interviewed employees are obese (BMI equal to or higher than 30), which is lower than 17.4 per cent in the Asian countries and 17.6 per cent in Australia. 

 

The study showed 83 per cent of employees in Thailand reported symptoms of one or more musculoskeletal conditions compared to 84 per cent in the Asian countries, among which shoulder and neck pain are the most common symptoms. In addition, 24 per cent of participating employees in Thailand reported one or more chronic conditions, compared to 30 per cent and 37 per cent in the Asian countries and Australia respectively. These chronic diseases include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

 

Despite the findings, the company said the research demonstrates that Thailand’s employers are aware of the importance of workplace health interventions. A total of 93 per cent of employers have offered at least one health and well-being program or facility in the workplace, while 56 per cent of employees participated in at least one workplace intervention and indicated that the interventions positively impacted their health.

 

Tan Hak Leh, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Thailand, said: “We are glad to see a high participation rate in the ‘Thailand’s Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality’ survey this year, as this indicates that Thailand’s organisations see the value of improving their employees’ health and wellbeing. 

 

“The survey, which reveals some concerns on the part of employees in Thailand about unhealthy lifestyle choices and mental health, resulting in a high productivity loss in organisations, demonstrates that employers should take proactive measures to improve or initiate their health promotion strategies and plans in order to create a healthier and more productive environment for their staff, which will ultimately enhance their organisations’ productivity.”

 

Aekkaratt Thitimon, Chief Marketing Officer of AIA Thailand, said: “The health and well-being of employees is very important in contributing to business success. To help employers develop a healthy and energetic workforce, AIA continuously initiates various health programs and activities for our corporate customers. We have also introduced an industry-first corporate wellness program called AIA Vitality for organisations. It offers fabulous incentives to encourage employees to adopt healthier lifestyles and achieve sustainable behavioural changes to enhance their productivity and deliver on our brand promise of helping Thais live healthier, longer, and better lives.”

 

The study was developed by AIA Group and delivered in partnership with RAND Europe since 2017. The survey examines data on employee lifestyles, clinical indicators, mental health, stress, and other areas of concern, with the objective of assessing the associated impact on health and productivity. 

 

In 2018, the wider Healthiest Workplace survey, encompassing Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand, involved the participation of 340 organisations representing a combined workforce of 24,187 employees. Thailand’s results are benchmarked against Hong Kong and Malaysia, (combined in ‘the Asian countries’ benchmark) and Australia.

 

The Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality also recognises excellence in workplace wellness across three award categories; Healthiest Workplace, Healthiest Employer and Healthiest Employees and three organisation sizes; Small (20-249 employees), Medium (250-999 employees), and Large (1,000+ employees). The winners of the first-ever Thailand’s Healthiest Workplace by AIA

Vitality awards are:

 

Healthiest Workplace

• Small organisation - Public Health Center 16 Lumpini

• Medium organisation - WE Fitness Co., Ltd

• Large organisation - Phyathai Sriracha Hospital

 

Healthiest Employer

• Small organisation - PTT Polymer Marketing Company Limited

• Medium organisation - Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

• Large organisation - Advanced Info Service Plc.

 

Healthiest Employees

• Small organisation - Public Health Center 16 Lumpini

• Medium organisation - WE Fitness Co., Ltd

• Large organisation - Phyathai Sriracha Hospital

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30360312

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-13

maybe being forced to work 6 (possibly 7) days a week and longs hours might have something to do with it, how long have we had a 5 day working week in the west ? which is now more like 4 1/2 and talk of it heading to 4

Just asking how many normal or National days they don't have to work, Bhudda days and so on.

"Organisations in Thailand are losing an average of 73 days of productive time per employee each year due to health-related absenteeism and employees who still work while ill..."

 

Just imagine how much productive time is lost due to "My Pen Rai".

Edited December 13, 20187 yr by jaltsc

73 days seems an awful lot to me. I wonder how other countries compare?

 

1 hour ago, smedly said:

maybe being forced to work 6 (possibly 7) days a week and longs hours might have something to do with it, how long have we had a 5 day working week in the west ? which is now more like 4 1/2 and talk of it heading to 4

Spot on. My Thai sons have to work six days a week and recently one of them told me that because of staff shortages he had been made to do a double shift of sixteen hours. 

 

Now I begin to understand why the gap between the haves and have nots here is one of the widest in the world and still growing. 

 

This country desperately needs strong trade unions, with the resource to back political candidates who will represent the mass of ordinary working people, instead of just the privilege elite.

 

(Just realised I could say the same thing for lots of austerity-hit European nations, including my own, these days!)

With the amount of holidays they have here I didn't think they even worked 73 days

Crappy diet, constant exposure to pollution - both noise and airborne doesn't give them a healthy lifestyle to start with! 

And how many days do they lose due to "gamer syndrome" and "telephonitis"? 

'Oh, I stubbed my toe. Go doctor reoh, reoh' surely contributes to absences. A Lack of stoicism is a national trait here.

And how many days do they lose by Thais simply being lazy?

7 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

'Oh, I stubbed my toe. Go doctor reoh, reoh' surely contributes to absences. A Lack of stoicism is a national trait here.

Actually, that would probably be a ¨go to emergency" visit.

What about the ones that dont want to work? I can see the next generation getting worse especially here in Phuket where maybe they have more money than lots of other provinces, see the kids in the morning on the way to school buying junk food in 7/11 they are already obese eventually can only lead to being un healthy 

Edited December 13, 20187 yr by ChipButty

The other 292  spent gawking at phone or asleep

In reading the report it seems difficult to believe.

How can they determine lost work time if they are at work and sick?

Thais are famous for wearing those doctors masks and going to work.

Are they doing nothing then?

Just saying that 6 days a month which seems very high.

 

 

 

 

Probably because the don't get any time off. The Thais I know seem to work 30 days a month except for February. Give them some vacation time and they might have fewer health issues and be more productive when they are in work.

Nothing compared to the amount of productive time lost to Candy Crush and nose picking. 

But, but, but,.......  the ultimate productivity killer in the land of smiles is,..... 

 

Losing face OR making someone lose face

 

Making someone, especially in influential status lose face can end fatal in several XXXtreme cases.

Edited December 13, 20187 yr by MaxLee

Can someone not proof read the articles before publishing them? They are often difficult to read:

 

"The study showed that 39 per cent of employees in Thailand surveyed do less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week, and 45 per cent sleep less than seven hours, compared to around 10 per cent and 27 per cent in Australia respectively. "

 

Compared "to around 10%" where?

 

"The average yearly cost per organisation is estimated at Bt6,169,237."

 

What are these organisations we are talking about, how are they defined?  We are talking about $180,000 per organisation. According to the article each organisation has about 50 employees......(7539/146). If average wages in Thailand are about 250,000 per year, then this is a loss of about 24 employees or roughly half the average workforce. 

 

 

It was calculated way back in the 70,s that a small cut to a finger lost something like 6 hrs of potential man hours working

Guy cuts his finger and stops work, and calls his mate over to see, who also stops work, then 3 others stop work to see what all the commotion is about and they all hold a discussion as to what the guy should do with the cut on his finger.

Off goes the guy with his mate to the First Aid Room / Hospital for treatment. Both wait aout 1/2 Hour

Fist Aider then has to clean and dress wound 20 Mins

The 2 men then return to work and fill in an accident report and witness statement, before returning to the shop floor where they are greeted by half the workforce, and have to explain what happened several times and where they have been, and what has been done to fix up his finger.

They all then return to working with the cut finger  guy only  performing at 30% capacity because of his injury

...Just 7.3 per cent of interviewed employees are obese ...

 

Obviously that survey missed out on the town where I live in Thailand  ???? 

 

In a completely unscientific survey that I carried out at the local Tesco Lotus, I estimated that 80% of all the adult women shopping there were obese, (some morbidly).  Men (far fewer survey numbers) were probably about 50% obese.

 

However, judging by the total cr*p that fills 95% of the supermarket shelves, this doesn't surprise me ????

Not surprised as employees are entitled to 30 days of paid "sick leaves".

Are they serious. The last 20 years of my working life I never has one day off sick and that was working 10-14 hours per day (own business obviously).

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

It was calculated way back in the 70,s that a small cut to a finger lost something like 6 hrs of potential man hours working

Guy cuts his finger and stops work, and calls his mate over to see, who also stops work, then 3 others stop work to see what all the commotion is about and they all hold a discussion as to what the guy should do with the cut on his finger.

Off goes the guy with his mate to the First Aid Room / Hospital for treatment. Both wait aout 1/2 Hour

Fist Aider then has to clean and dress wound 20 Mins

The 2 men then return to work and fill in an accident report and witness statement, before returning to the shop floor where they are greeted by half the workforce, and have to explain what happened several times and where they have been, and what has been done to fix up his finger.

They all then return to working with the cut finger  guy only  performing at 30% capacity because of his injury

Yes, I sliced my thumb pretty badly while working with a bid int. company. Went to the first aid kit, bandaged it up tightly for 3 days and then no problems. It caused the management all sorts of stress, they probably lost 30 hours of work discussing it, trying to tell me that is not the way it is done. They wanted me to go to a doctor to get it stitched and then put in an insurance claim under OH&S. Then spent $1000 on a cutting machine so I would not uses the Stanley knife again.

4 hours ago, CGW said:

Crappy diet, constant exposure to pollution - both noise and airborne doesn't give them a healthy lifestyle to start with! 

And for BKK add the many daily hours in traffic jams or standing in a metro plus waiting in the heat.

France is far worse...they have also reduced the working hours per week and the absence rate in phenomenal...they seem very close to Spain in Italy in terms of employee absentism...so no point in bashing Thailand on this one.

One thing that strikes me here, at least in the provinces amongst the unemployed village youth, is that the wages anyone can earn for a day's work - labour or semi-skilled - is so utterly miserable (3 or 400฿) even with low living costs that it's not really worth getting out of bed for ...

 

No doubt different in the cities with all those highly paid, trained & skilled middle class public servants & the like.

8 hours ago, smedly said:

maybe being forced to work 6 (possibly 7) days a week and longs hours might have something to do with it

 

And all the while sitting in chairs that are barely 25 cm off the floor, putting you almost in a squatting position all day.

9 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

Just asking how many normal or National days they don't have to work, Bhudda days and so on.

 

There are 17 public holidays.

5 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Can someone not proof read the articles before publishing them? They are often difficult to read:

 

"The study showed that 39 per cent of employees in Thailand surveyed do less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week, and 45 per cent sleep less than seven hours, compared to around 10 per cent and 27 per cent in Australia respectively. "

 

Compared "to around 10%" where?

 

"The average yearly cost per organisation is estimated at Bt6,169,237."

 

What are these organisations we are talking about, how are they defined?  We are talking about $180,000 per organisation. According to the article each organisation has about 50 employees......(7539/146). If average wages in Thailand are about 250,000 per year, then this is a loss of about 24 employees or roughly half the average workforce. 

 

 

 

yea, there's too much cutting and pasting of articles on this site with no thought to add benefit to what is posted or correct blatantly obvious errors and/or mis-information. the irony is they are often posted via the user name 'webfact'.

 

either the sub-eds dont know what they are doing, or cant be bothered. lets have some quality control here.