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Workplace health promotion and labour market performance of employees

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  • Huber, Martin
  • Lechner, Michael
  • Wunsch, Conny

Abstract

This paper investigates the average effects of firm-provided workplace health promotion measures on labour market outcomes of the firms’ employees. Exploiting linked employer–employee panel data that consist of rich survey-based and administrative information on firms, workers and regions, we apply a flexible propensity score matching approach that controls for selection on observables and time-constant unobserved factors. While the effects of analysing sickness absenteeism appear to be rather limited, our results suggest that health circles/courses increase tenure and job stability across various age groups. A key finding is that health circles/courses strengthen the labour force attachment of elderly employees (51–60), implying potential cost savings for public transfer schemes such as unemployment insurance or early retirement schemes.

Suggested Citation

  • Huber, Martin & Lechner, Michael & Wunsch, Conny, 2015. "Workplace health promotion and labour market performance of employees," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 170-189.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:43:y:2015:i:c:p:170-189
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.07.002
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    1. Martin Biewen & Bernd Fitzenberger & Aderonke Osikominu & Marie Paul, 2014. "The Effectiveness of Public-Sponsored Training Revisited: The Importance of Data and Methodological Choices," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 32(4), pages 837-897.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marwah Badr Zaya Yousif & Taicir Moalla Loukil, 2022. "Determining the Effect of Narcissistic Leadership on Employee Performance: An applied Study in a Private College in Iraq," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 11, September.
    2. Doerr, Annabelle, 2022. "Vocational Training for Female Job Returners - Effects on Employment, Earnings and Job Quality," Working papers 2022/02, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    3. Broszeit, Sandra & Laible, Marie-Christine, 2017. "Examining the link between health measures, management practices and establishment performance," IAB-Discussion Paper 201726, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    4. Doerr, Annabelle, 2022. "Vocational training for female job returners - Effects on employment, earnings and job quality," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    5. Ong, Rachel & Nguyen, Toan & Kendall, Garth, 2018. "The impact of intergenerational financial transfers on health and wellbeing outcomes: A longitudinal study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 179-186.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm health policies; Health circles; Health courses; Analysis of sickness absenteeism; Matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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