One year later: Malaysian Workforce Experience High Productivity Loss and Work-Related Stress

• Organisations lose a total of 73.1 days per employee due to absence and presenteeism, costing each employer RM2.27 million per year.
• Mental health issues are on the rise with 50.2% of employees having at least one dimension of work-related stress.
• 98% of employees have a higher AIA Vitality Age than actual age and are functioning with a body and mental state that is older than their actual years. 

*Absence: Not being at work due to health-related reasons
**Presenteeism: Being at work when unwell

According to the findings of the Malaysia’s Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality 2018 survey, employers lost an average of 73.1 days of working hours per employee due to ill-health related absence and presenteeism.

Absence refers to employees’ absence from work due to health problems while presenteeism means employees are present at work but are constrained by health problems to carry out their daily activities. Additionally, the loss of working days increased from an average of 67.2 days from last year (2017) which translates into an estimated cost of RM2.27 million lost per organisation per year.

Malaysian employees have also become increasingly affected by mental issues over the years which can lead to staff absences and turnover which in turn negatively impact the productivity and performance of the company. If not addressed, both employers and employees are at the losing end with the performances of employees and employers affected. The findings demonstrate that 50.2% of employees have at least one dimension of work-related stress.

Malaysian employees are seen to have poor habits as the number of smokers have increased in comparison to other markets (namely Australia, Hong Kong and Thailand) – 11.1% of employees are currently smokers, compared to the average of 7.5% in other markets.

They are recorded as being most at risk for nutrition with 91.7% not eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Additionally, 16.6% of Malaysian employees surveyed are obese. Stress, binge eating, or being overwhelmed at work can be contributing factors to the rise of these poor habits. Last but not least, employees are found to be less likely to make healthy changes if they perceived themselves to be in good health. 13% of employees have four or more risk factors however 62% of employees believe that they are in good health.

Malaysia has improved in certain areas – it has the highest numbers of employees who show motivation in changing their physical activities and weight. Additionally, more than half of the employees agreed that leadership in the workforce is positive. The survey indicated that 56% of Malaysians feel that their line managers care about their health and wellbeing.

Find more information on Malaysia’s Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality at www.healthiestworkplace.aia.com

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About AIA Bhd.

AIA Bhd. is a leading insurer in Malaysia, where we have been privileged to do business since 1948. We offer a suite of financial solutions including Protection, Health, Personal Accident, Employee Benefits, General Insurance, Mortgage, Retirement and Family Takaful products to meet our customers’ protection and financial security needs at every life stage. Through our wide and diverse distribution footprint which comprises a 14,000 strong Life Planner force, our exclusive bank partner’s branches nationwide as well as corporate sales teams and brokers, we give our customers the choice of deciding how, when and where they connect with us.

Part of the AIA Group, the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group, AIA Bhd. has the financial strength, experience, service centre network and a well-trained team of more than 2,000 staff to serve our 3.5 million customers nationwide. As at 30 June 2018, AIA Bhd.’s total asset worth was RM51 billion, with a paid-up capital of RM1,451 million.

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Macau, Brunei, Cambodia, a 97 per cent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, a 49 per cent joint venture in India and a representative office in Myanmar.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai almost a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$221 billion as of 30 June 2018.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia-Pacific, AIA serves the holders of 32 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

About AIA Vitality

AIA Vitality is Asia’s first and only comprehensive science-backed health programme. It provides members with the knowledge, tools and motivation to bring about long-term positive behavioural changes to lead a healthier life.

AIA Vitality members are incentivised to actively engage in health and wellness activities by offering them a range of benefits including extra insurance benefits on selected insurance and Takaful plans as well as savings and discounts from AIA Vitality partners.

Learn more about AIA Vitality at www.aiavitality.com.my

About the Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality

Learn more about Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality at www.healthiestworkplace.aia.com

About the RAND Corporation

The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.