Citation

Shephard RJ, Cox M, Corey P. J. Occup. Med. 1981; 23(5): 359-363.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7241249

Abstract

The effects of an employee fitness program upon absenteeism and productivity were investigated in a controlled trial involving two large offices. During the six-month experimental program, the test company developed substantial gains of fitness. However self-reports and supervisor evaluations showed small and relatively similar gains of productivity, with reduction of absenteeism at both test and control companies. Further studies on a large scale are warranted. The presently observed changes probably reflect (1) sample attenuation, (2) seasonal trends, and (3) a "Hawthorne" effect. If the last factor is substantiated, employee fitness programs may be of economic interest, despite the nonspecific nature of the resultant gains in productivity.

Language: en