The Preventative Health Taskforce report suggests that the cost of keeping staff healthy should be met by Australian employers.

A report by the Australian Government’s Preventable Health Taskforce says that employers could have a levy applied, a percentage of their payroll, to meet the cost of health programs for their workers. 

This suggestion is one of 35 made in the report, which is targeted at reducing obesity, and alcohol and tobacco abuse. 

The government says that these health matters involve a cost to the Australian economy of in excess of $31 billion. 

11 million working Australians would be involved in the scheme to improve their health via their place of employment. 

The report says that 5 million Australians are overweight. 1.3 million are obese, and this accounted for 4.25 million days lost from work. Obesity is worst in workers 45 to 64 years of age, approximately 33% of the national workforce. Sick leave for this group is at twice the rate of those who are not obese. 

The report argues that businesses will benefit from improved health of staff with reduced absence due to illness and enhanced productivity. 

The report suggests that the government legislate to effect the changes. 

The Taskforce says that the funding of the scheme could be done through tax incentives for businesses or through the imposition of a percentage of the business’s payroll. 

While the benefits of improved health of employees are substantial, the burden of meeting the cost by businesses, especially small businesses, would be a very real burden at this time in the economic cycle. 

We are assisting Australian businesses since Online local search is now an important source of new prospects for small businesses and our Business Directory Portal provides qualified prospects with no cost involved for the business. 

Monte Huebsch, CEO.