Sophie Okolo, MPH

The debate of whether employee health is the responsibility of the employer has been a hot topic for many years. Some employers feel that they should be responsible for their employees’ health because it is in the best interest of the company. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce, after all. 

Other employers believe that employees should be responsible for their own health and that the company shouldn’t have to foot the bill. However, addiction in the workplace is real and has long-lasting effects on those suffering from it.

So who is right? Is employee health the responsibility of the employer or not? Some factors that could influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer include:

– The size of the company

The size of the company can influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer. In general, larger companies are more likely to be responsible for employee health than smaller companies. This is because larger companies have more resources and are better able to afford things like health insurance and other benefits that help promote employee health.

– The industry the company is in

The industry the company is in can also influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer. For example, companies in highly physical industries (such as construction) may be more likely to be responsible for employee health than companies in less physical industries (such as office work). This is because employees in highly physical industries are more likely to get injured on the job, and so the company may feel a responsibility to help ensure that their employees stay healthy.

– The country the company is based in

The country the company is based can also influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer. In some countries, such as the United States, employers are required by law to provide health insurance for their employees. In other countries, like Canada, there is no such requirement. This means that it is up to each individual company to decide whether or not they want to provide health insurance for their employees.

– The company’s culture

The company’s culture can also influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer. For example, some companies have a culture of wellness, where employees are encouraged to live healthy lifestyles. These companies may be more likely to be responsible for employee health than companies that don’t have a culture of wellness.

– The company’s financial situation

The company’s financial situation can also influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer. In general, companies that are doing well financially are more likely to be responsible for employee health than companies that are struggling financially. This is because companies that are doing well financially can afford to provide things like health insurance and other benefits that help promote employee health, while companies that are struggling financially may not be able to afford these things.

In Closing

So, as you can see, there are a lot of factors that can influence whether or not employee health is the responsibility of the employer. In some cases, it may make sense for the employer to be responsible for employee health, while in other cases, it may make more sense for employees to be responsible for their own health. It really depends on the specific situation.