Improve Employee Fitness to Save Money

Britain's businesses can save billions of pounds by improving the health of their employees.

Research by Bupa revealed that UK businesses are losing nearly £3 billion every year through poor employee health and this cost can be dramatically reduced if workers are encouraged to enhance their wellbeing.

The private health provider discovered that employee health factors, such as whether they smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol regularly or were obese, had a significant impact on business productivity and performance.

An improvement in employee health will result in increased productivity and a reduction in sick pay, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which carried out the report.

It has been estimated that alcohol misuse costs businesses close to £2 billion per year, while just over £50 million is lost per annum as a result of smoking-related illnesses and £490 million each year can be saved by combating employee obesity.

If an employee has alcohol issues then they are more likely to miss work through colds, flu, stress and depression as well as circulatory problems, which can seriously damage business performance.

Businesses with a large number of employees that smoke are more likely to experience higher levels of staff absenteeism due to back pain, cancer and circulatory problems.

Overweight and obese employees have a greater chance of missing a significant amount of work because they are at an increased risk of contracting cancer, heart disease and various other chronic illnesses.

Businesses can cut down on staff absenteeism and improve performance by implementing a number of wellbeing policies which are aimed at enhancing employee health.

Organising after-work exercise clubs is a great way to improve employee health and it can also help workers bond, which will increase moral and also productivity as a result of having a happier workplace.

Charity projects, such as sponsored walks, runs or cycle rides are also a great idea because they will enhance the reputation of a business at the same time as improving employee health.

British businesses can also take advantage of the government's cycle-to-work scheme, which enables employees to buy bicycles tax-free resulting in a saving of around 40 per cent.

Providing fresh fruit at work is a healthier alternative to the chocolates sweets and caffeinated drinks that the majority of employees use to help maintain their energy levels throughout the day.

Performance improvement consulting professionals can help organisations increase their productivity levels by implementing proven business theory.


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