The costs of poor health at work are significant. Australian employees are now taking an average of 14 sick days per year, an increase of more than two days since before COVID (Sedgwick 2023). Absenteeism costs businesses more than AUD 44 billion annually, while presenteeism, when employees are at work but underperforming due to health issues, adds another AUD 35 billion in losses (AIHW, 2024). Safe Work Australia also reports that depression and low psychosocial safety climate together cost Australian employers over AUD 12 billion each year in lost productivity.
The EHS Executive Health Index™ 2024, developed from 31,700 clinical assessments, highlights the personal health risks behind these numbers. Among executives:
Most executives present with three to four measurable risk factors, making early detection critical for prevention.
Employees increasingly expect their employer to invest in health and wellbeing. Mercer’s 2024 Australian Benefits Review found that 97 percent of organisations now offer health and wellness initiatives, showing that wellbeing is now a standard part of the employment package. Research by Flare HR confirms this trend, with Australian workers ranking health and wellbeing benefits among their top five most valued benefits, alongside salary and flexibility. International findings reinforce the same point: organisations that prioritise health programs are more likely to be seen as an “employer of choice,” strengthening their ability to attract and retain talent in competitive markets.