Providing health insurance boosts employee performance

Monday, 10 January 2011 16:00

News - Health Care Costs

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Researchers at Cornell University recently published a study that suggests employee health benefits may improve employee performance, according to the university website.

Dr. Sean Way and his colleagues in the university's School of Hotel Administration found that employees who have health insurance through their employers have better rates of task performance than those who are not covered. The researchers found that while the presence of insurance had no effect on workers' anxiety levels or frequency of absences or tardiness, insured employees tended to perform better in the workplace.

Way told Hospitality.net that the study was done in light of the healthcare legislation passed last year. His findings could provide another talking point in the health insurance debate.

"The question of whether health insurance benefits contribute to employees' job-related performance and behavior has been largely lost in the debate on health insurance," he said.

The findings by the Cornell University team may suggest that employees who receive adequate compensation and rewards from their employers are more likely to put extra effort into their work, which could boost their company's bottom line.