For the third year in a row, most US employees have reported their health has worsened or stayed the same, according to One Medical's The State of Workplace Health. Only 23 percent of 800 full-time employees said their health improved from 2022 to 2023. The report, which also surveyed 800 HR and employee benefits leaders, examines how chronic conditions are a "hidden threat" to workforce well-being and productivity.

"One reason for the lack of progress on workforce well-being could be the high prevalence of chronic conditions, for example, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease," the report states.

In fact, the "Prevalence and Overlap of Cardiac, Renal, and Metabolic Conditions in US Adults, 1999-2020" study published in JAMA Cardiology in September 2023 found that one in four US adults has one chronic cardiac, renal, or metabolic condition—and one in 10 have multiple. The study also suggests that cardiac, renal, and metabolic multimorbidity is increasing enough in the US that it's become more important for the country's collaborative and comprehensive management strategies. Younger workers are not exempt. According to The State of Workplace Health, 40 percent of Gen Z and millennial respondents said they suffer from a chronic condition.

For those with chronic conditions, 53 percent said those issues have negatively affected their work, according to One Medical, causing diminished productivity and difficulty focusing.

Employers have noticed, with 94 percent stating that employees with chronic conditions are less productive—losing at least six hours per week.

"For employers, supporting people's preference for a more preventive approach isn't just the right thing to do—it could also offer significant financial benefits," writes One Medical in the report. "Over 8 out of 10 workers with chronic conditions are taking medications, which can be quite costly. In fact, 65 percent of HR leaders said their company's medication costs for chronic conditions increased last year."

The good news is that employees' benefits use is increasing alongside their diagnoses. In 2022, 84 percent of employees used their healthcare benefits, and that number rose to 90 percent in 2023, so ailments are not going untreated.