NBER Study Finds GLP-1 Drugs Cut Long-Term Sick Leave 17%, Saving About $866
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 21
NBER Study Finds GLP-1 Drugs Cut Long-Term Sick Leave 17%, Saving About $866
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 21
Summary
GLP-1 users took 17% less long-term sick leave than non-users in an NBER study using Danish worker and medication data.
Up to 1.5% of salary—about $866 per person on average—could be saved because the drugs improve health and may prevent events such as heart attacks and strokes that drive long absences.
In Denmark, employers pay full salary for illness-related absences up to 30 days, while the government covers longer leave, so fewer short absences help companies and fewer long absences reduce public costs.
Jonathan Zhang of Duke said the findings may extend to the U.S., where lower absenteeism and less “presenteeism” could lift productivity and potentially improve workers’ advancement.