Fall allergy season is bad for business
Companies lose: $ 2000 a year for each sufferer on staff.
By Diane Stafford
The leaf pollen warning is out. This fall in the Midwest is predicted to be a bad year for allergy sufferers, and that means trouble for companies bottom lines.
A business survey by Hewitt Associates - on the unusual topic of allegies - says companies can lose an average $2000 a year for each allergy sufferer on staff.
The human resources and management consulting firm surveyed 2000 workers at 30 US companies. Among those who said they suffered from allergies, 40% said they missed and average of 1 to 5 workdays a year because of their symptoms.
The most frequent reasons for missing work were drowsinness because of medications and doctors' appointments.
Allergy suffers siad they are on average, one-forth less productive when they come to work while affected by symptoms. The suffers also said they experienced allergy symptoms an average of 69 days a year.
Camille Haltom, a healthcare consultant with Hewitt, suggests that employers start now to minimize the effects of fall allergies. She said companies should:
Start a partnership with area health-care providers, such as hospitals, health plans or doctors, to educate employees about allergies and treatments.
"It's suprising how many employees many not be aware of ways they can lessen their exposure to allergens, " she said.
Evaluate health insurance plans to see if coverage includes seasonal allergy treatments. "The actual cost of medical treatment for allergies can be overshadowed by the potential cost of lost work time and productivity related to allergy symptom, " Haltom said.
Hewitt Associates estimated that US companies could lose more than 250 million this year because of allergies.
Mold and leaf pollen allergies are expected to peak this fall, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Employees also may be susceptible to year-round allergies such as to dust, mold and animal dander.
The most common symptoms are congestion or runny noses, watery or itchy eyes, sneezing, headaches and unusual tiredness. Sufferers either comt to work feeling miserable - or call in sick and miss work entirely.
Reprinted from The Kansas City Star, August 18, 1998.
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