Case Study: Welfare and Health Impact on Employee Performance

This report investigates the significant impact of employee welfare and health on workplace performance in Australia, focusing on the growing issue of obesity and its effects. The study explores the relationship between employee health, working conditions, and productivity, acknowledging that health plays a vital role in employee performance. Using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including literature reviews, secondary data analysis, and interviews, the research aims to determine the effects of obesity and overweight on employee turnover, develop strategies for management to address these issues, and examine how working conditions contribute to employee health problems. The findings, presented with data from government agencies and employee records, offer insights into the extent of management's responsibility in addressing worker health and welfare, providing recommendations to improve employee well-being and enhance overall performance. The report emphasizes that a healthy worker is a productive worker and highlights the need for proactive measures to combat obesity and improve working conditions to boost employee effectiveness and overall productivity.

Running head: WELFARE AND HEALTH OF WORKERS 1
Factors influencing employee performance in Australia: A case study to welfare and health of
workers
Name
Institution

WELFARE AND HEALTH OF WORKERS 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Problem statement..................................................................................................................................3
2. Aims and objectives...............................................................................................................................3
3. A brief methodology..............................................................................................................................4
4. Secondary data and analysis methods....................................................................................................4
5. References..............................................................................................................................................6

WELFARE AND HEALTH OF WORKERS 3
1. Problem statement
According to Street and Thomas (2017), about two-thirds of Australian adults are obese.
Naughton (2016) observed that obesity among adults doubled in the last 30 years and further
predicts that obese or overweight population will reach 70 percent by 2025. Moreover,
Australian institute of health and welfare (AIHW) (2017) acknowledge that obesity and
overweight is a major public health issue affecting Australia. As such, these health and welfare
issues go along away to affect employee performance in the work place. Campbell (2016) also
notes that majority of Australians get obese as they get older. This means that those working in
companies will become less effective as they age.
Bashir and Ismail Ramay (2010); Rajgopal (2010); Nielsen et al. (2017) acknowledge that health
plays a very significant role on employee performance. Nielsen et al. (2017); Iheanacho
Maryjoan and Tom (2016); Kumar, McCalla and Lybeck (2009) suggest that a healthy worker is
a happy worker who is more productive and perform well. However, with the ever rising level of
obesity, many employees attention to working environment is losing focus thus affecting their
productivity.
2. Aims and objectives
This research proposal aims to investigate the extent to which employee welfare and health affect
their performance at work, and also to establish what the management can do to address obesity
and overweight of their employees. The objectives are to:
i. Determine the effect of obesity and overweight on employee turnover;

WELFARE AND HEALTH OF WORKERS 4
ii. Develop strategies the management can adopt to contain obesity and overweight of the
employees;
iii. Examine if the working conditions contribute to employee obesity and overweight.
3. A brief methodology
To successfully investigate the extent to which employee health and welfare affect employee
performance, this study will employ both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
i. Literature review – to investigate the effect of employee welfare and health on
performance, whether working conditions contribute to obesity and overweight, and
effects of obesity and overweight on turnover, this study will use journals, AIHW,
Australian bureau of statistics, reports and other relevant online resources.
ii. Data collection – secondary data will be collected from Australian bureau of statistics,
government agencies, and from employee records.
iii. Interviews – to supplement data from secondary sources, the researcher will collect data
from employees of various companies whether working conditions promote obesity and
overweight as well as strategies to counter the problem. Combining the data from
secondary and primary sources will help management of various companies to know the
extent of their responsibility to address workers welfare and health.
4. Secondary data and analysis methods
This study will use secondary data from both government agencies and various companies’
employee data. In particular, Australian bureau of statistics will avail data on impact of obesity
and overweight on employee performance, and the cost of obesity and overweight to the

WELFARE AND HEALTH OF WORKERS 5
management. From employee data, the researcher shall examine whether the work condition
contribute to obesity and overweight among works.
The collected primary data on strategies to contain obesity and overweight will be coded and
analyzed using SPSS. Besides, the secondary data will be analyzed to establish the relationship
between health and welfare of the employee and their performance. Finally, the findings will be
presented in tables, charts, graphs accompanied with discussions and recommendations.

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5. References
AIHW (2017). An interactive insight into overweight and obesity in Australia. Retrieved on
April 4, 2018 from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/interactive-
insight-into-overweight-and-obesity/contents/how-many-people-are-overweight-or-obese
Bashir, U., & Ismail Ramay, M. (2010). Impact of stress on employees’ job performance: A
study on banking sector of Pakistan.
Campbell, L. (2016). Shocking Statistics That Illustrate Australia's Obesity Problem. Retrieved
on April 4, 2018 from https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/02/24/australia-obesity-
statistics_n_9154422.html?utm_hp_ref=au-obesity
Iheanacho Maryjoan, U., & Tom, E. E. (2016). Effects of industrial safety and health on
employees ’job performance in selected cement companies in cross river state, Nigeria.
Kumar, S., McCalla, M., & Lybeck, E. (2009). Operational impact of employee wellness
programs: a business case study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance
Management, 58(6), 581-597.
Nielsen, K., Nielsen, M. B., Ogbonnaya, C., Känsälä, M., Saari, E., & Isaksson, K. (2017).
Workplace resources to improve both employee well-being and performance: A
systematic review and meta-analysis. Work & Stress, 31(2), 101-120.
Naughton, J. (2016). This Is What Obesity Is Costing Australia. Retrieved on April 4, 2018 from
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/02/25/obesity-cost-in-
australia_n_9199240.html

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Rajgopal, T. (2010). Mental well-being at the workplace. Indian journal of occupational and
environmental medicine, 14(3), 63.
Street, T. D., & Thomas, D. L. (2017). Beating Obesity: Factors Associated with Interest in
Workplace Weight Management Assistance in the Mining Industry. Safety and health at
work, 8(1), 89-93.