The physical and mental health of American adults has a direct impact on the workplace. According to the American Public Health Association, “the U.S. spends more on healthcare but has worse health outcomes than comparable countries around the globe. This holds true across age and income groups.” Disparities within U.S. health outcomes correlate with race, ethnicity, county and state.
According to APHA, U.S. life expectancy has grown to age 79, but at a slower rate than 33 other countries. Japan leads the way at 84 years old. Surprisingly, at least to me, the life expectancy in Lebanon is age 80. The U.S. spends, on average, twice as much on healthcare as the other 33 countries yet has the least favorable health outcomes. The U.S. has the highest rates of obesity and diabetes and the second highest rate of heart disease. An encouraging trend is that drug-related deaths continue to decline. For 2025, there were 69,973 such deaths, a decline of 11,300 from 2024.
What are the workplace implications of these trends? Employers should expect more health-related absences, an increase in the need for ADA reasonable accommodation, and an increase in FMLA use—if not for the employee, but also for the employee’s family members.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Richard Lehr at (205) 323-9260 or rlehr@lmvtlaw.com.
