GLP-1s are linked to a 17% drop in worker sick leave, new study finds

GLP-1 drugs could pb to outgo savings for workers and their employers by reducing worker sick leave, a caller economic study finds. 

Researchers recovered that patients who utilized the drugs, sold nether marque names including Ozempic and Wegovy, took 17% little semipermanent sick permission than radical who didn't usage the medications. The survey defines semipermanent sick permission arsenic illness-related absences lasting much than 30 days, according to the paper, published this period by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

GLP-1 drugs, which are prescribed to radical with diabetes oregon obesity, are known to amended patients' health, including by reducing the hazard of large adverse cardiovascular events, including bosom attacks and strokes, probe shows.

"Those events, we'd imagine, would pb to semipermanent absences from work," Jonathan Zhang, 1 of the study's co-authors and a prof astatine Duke University, told CBS News. "So you tin ideate the savings of not having those absences."

The simplification successful idiosyncratic absences translates to savings of up to 1.5% of an individual's salary, oregon astir $866 connected average, according to the study, which analyzed idiosyncratic and medicine usage information from Denmark.

To beryllium sure, Denmark's sick permission policies disagree greatly from those successful the U.S. For example, successful Denmark, employers indispensable wage their workers their afloat salaries for illness-related absences of up to 30 days, portion the authorities covers semipermanent sickness permission of much than 30 days.

A simplification successful short-term unwellness led to savings for employers, portion less longer-term absences saved the authorities money, according to the report.

"Imagine you instrumentality 2 days off, your leader would inactive wage your salary," Zhang explained. "Now they inactive wage your salary, but you don't instrumentality the clip off," helium said of patients taking GLP-1 medications. 

Because semipermanent sick permission successful Denmark is covered by the government, outgo savings related to GLP-1 cause usage would accrue to the government. 

"There are fiscal benefits, but that doesn't look similar savings for the diligent oregon the individual, due to the fact that sick permission benefits are truthful generous," Zhang said.

Zhang said the survey findings could use to the U.S. labour market. 

"In the U.S., which doesn't person the generous sick permission argumentation of Denmark, radical get sick and they spell to work. They're little productive due to the fact that they consciousness crappy," helium said, noting that neither the worker nor the steadfast benefits successful specified a scenario.

He added that if the drugs assistance trim "presenteeism" — erstwhile employees travel to enactment but aren't capable to execute astatine their champion due to the fact that of wellness issues — companies could go much productive portion workers could get much done and perchance gain much promotions.

Edited by Aimee Picchi

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• GLP-1