Staff Health Should Be Top Employer Priority

Employers must ensure that their workforce is in optimum health as long-term sick leave can result in staffing problems.

Research by Aviva revealed that almost half of employers think that workers who miss out on a significant amount of work due to sickness are posing a serious problem for their business.

The health insurer discovered that over a third of employers said that they were concerned with how they should juggle their commitment to workers while managing their organisation at the same time.

It can be a difficult balancing act for employers as the health and wellbeing of their staff should be the top priority but they must also appreciate that prolonged absence will put other workers under increased pressure due to a bigger workload.

Mental health issues and substance abuse problems are prevalent and can be managed by regular discussions with workers and possibly allowing them time off work in order to seek professional help.

Basic physical fitness is also a growing worry for many businesses as the Benenden Healthcare Society discovered that the average British worker is unfit and out of shape.

The Society found that simple tasks such as housework, gardening and running for the bus left many workers aged between 18 and 65 out of breath, which was due to a serious lack of exercise.

Employees who avoid regular exercise are more likely to miss work due to sickness compared to workers who keep themselves in shape by partaking in sport and going to the gym.

There are a number of ways that employers can maintain and improve the fitness of their staff which can also result in greater workplace morale and increased productivity.

Firstly, organisations should ensure that their employees are not working too many hours as medical research found that spending over 11 hours a day at work dramatically increases the risk of heart disease.

Researchers at University College London discovered that employees that worked 11 hours or more a day were 67 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack compared to staff who worked fewer hours.

Secondly, firms may want to offer private health insurance or gym membership to their staff as an employee benefit as this will encourage them to exercise as well as providing them with quality health care.

Companies can also make it easier for their workers to commute via bicycle by installing bike racks and additional security for such vehicles.

Performance improvement consulting experts can advise companies how best to improve their processes through the application of business theory.


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