Productivity impact of headache on a heavy-manufacturing workforce in Turkey

Abstract

BackgroundHeadache disorders cause substantial productivity losses through absenteeism and impaired effectiveness at work (presenteeism). We measured productivity losses from both causes at a heavy-manufacturing company with a largely male workforce in north-western Turkey.MethodsWe used the HALT Index as the survey instrument. We first assessed productivity losses by surveying the entire workforce. Because we anticipated much non-participation, we also applied HALT at the annual health-checks provided to all employees by the company’s on-site health clinic.ResultsMean age of the workforce (N = 7,200) was 31 yr. About two thirds (90% male) were manual workers rotating weekly through early, late and night shifts. One third (50% male) were clerical/managerial, working a standard 5-day week. In the first assessment, 3,939 questionnaires (54.7%) were returned with usable data. In the previous 3 months, absenteeism of ≥1 day was reported by 360 respondents (9.1%), of whom 4 (0.10%) recorded ≥45 days (average per worker: 0.92 days/yr). Presenteeism equivalent to ≥1 day’s absence was reported by 1,187 respondents (29.4%) (average per worker: 6.0 days/yr). We estimated that 23,519 days/yr were lost in total among respondents (2.3% of workforce capacity). In the first 6 months of annual health-checks, 2,691 employees (37.4%) attended (94.4% male). Absenteeism was reported by 40 (1.5%), with 74 days lost, presenteeism by 348 (12.9%), with 1,240 days lost. We estimated that, altogether, 41,771 man-days/yr were lost in the entire workforce (2.4% of capacity; 94% due to presenteeism), closely matching the earlier estimate. A small minority (5.7%) of those with headache, who were only 2.5% of the workforce, accounted for >45% of presenteeism-related lost productivity.ConclusionThe high productivity losses in a largely male workforce were surprising. Possible factors were the nature of the work – manual labour for two thirds, often heavy – and the recurring schedule disturbances of shift-work. There was a highly-disabled minority.

Prevalence of primary headache disorders diagnosed according to ICHD-3 beta in three different social groups

“…A low prevalence of headache in workers suggests that physical work may be associated with reduced prevalence of headache, especially TTH. However, heavy physical work may not alter the prevalence of TTH as the one-month prevalence of headache in heavy engineering workers in Turkey was 43.2% (11).…”

Productivity losses attributable to headache, and their attempted recovery, in a heavy-manufacturing workforce in Turkey: implications for employers and politicians

“…In our earlier report of productivity losses attributed to headache disorders at Ford Otomotiv Sanayi AŞ (FO), a vehicle-manufacturing company in north-western Turkey, we described losses through absenteeism and, much more substantial, those through impaired effectiveness at work (presenteeism) [ 9 ]. We estimated that 2.4 % of workforce capacity was surrendered to headache, 94 % of this due to presenteeism.…”

Impact of considering occipital nerve blockade in differential diagnosis of headache on cost and workday loss

“…GON blocks both as diagnostic and therapeutic intervention provided a cost-effective working diagnosis of CHA and ON. employers (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28). The present study has been designed so as to estimate the burden of the aforementioned headache entities.…”