A recent study has highlighted the types of companies most in need of a wellness program to control healthcare costs.
They are companies that employ blue-collar employees: Transportation, manufacturing, production, construction and mining personnel.
Research firm Gallup and wellness program provider Healthways have combined to create the Well-Being Index, an assessment of U.S. residents’ health.
The companies’ most recent study found blue-collar workers tend to have more health concerns than other workers.
Some stats reported by USA Today:
- 37% of transportation workers and 30.7% of manufacturing and production employees are obese, as are more than a quarter of construction and mining workers
- 33% of miners smoke, as do 29.3% of construction, installation and repair workers, and
- 31.5% of transportation workers have high blood pressure.
Overall, the prevalence of smoking by blue-collar employees is 6% above the national smoking rate.
The study also found that nearly half of construction and mining workers haven’t been to the dentist in the past year, and just half reported they eat enough fruits and vegetables.
The two most likely reasons for the unhealthy habits of blue-collar workers: Odd work schedules and high stress.