Leaders affect employees' health

If your employees are using a lot of sick leave, it could be because you're a bad leader. New research published in the August issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that good leadership has positive effects on employee health and well-being, including decreased sick leave and disability. Good leadership was associated with a 27 percent reduction in sick leave and a 46 percent reduction in disability pensions.

According to researchers, the qualities associated with good leadership included treating employees considerately and truthfully, providing social support, and providing inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation. Workers with good leadership were 40 percent more likely to have low rates of anxiety, depression, and job stress.