Empowering your staff to take care of their own health
Whether you're in construction, logistics or manufacturing, your workforce is your greatest asset. There are few factors which have such a significant impact on your company's productivity as staff health and wellbeing.
It’s estimated that 36.8 million working days were lost in 2021/22 due to work-related ill-health and injury. Stress, depression or anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for the majority of days lost. On average, each person suffering took around 16.5 days off work.
Some employers consider their role in staff health to be limited to their legal duty of care. However, real benefits can be gained by proactively engaging staff in their own wellbeing and empowering them to take responsibility for their own health.
Companies that nurture a caring and supportive culture see less absenteeism, reduced staff turnover, improved productivity, and increased profits. Ensuring your team are given the support they need is essential to keep things running smoothly and profitably.
In today's fast-paced workplaces, the importance of good health cannot be overstated. This means adopting a holistic approach that encompasses physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
In this blog post, we explore the benefits of empowering your staff to prioritise their health and provide practical tips for doing so.
What are the benefits of empowering staff to prioritise their own health?
1. Less time off work
As the figures in our introduction show, the majority of lost working days are due to musculoskeletal issues or poor mental health. In both cases, there is much that can be done to support people with issues ranging from back pain and repetitive strain injury to anxiety and stress. Early diagnosis and nipping problems in the bud will reap rewards later on.
2. Improved morale and staff satisfaction
When employees are supported in their efforts to maintain good health, they feel valued as individuals. Knowing their employer cares about their wellbeing boosts overall job satisfaction and increases morale.
3. Increased productivity
When employees are encouraged to prioritise their health, they are more likely to have the energy, focus, and mental clarity needed to excel in their roles. This results in higher levels of productivity and improved job performance. Fewer sick days and lower instances of presenteeism (employees showing up to work when sick) can also directly contribute to increased output.
4. Reduced staff turnover
High staff turnover is costly and disruptive, so improving employee retention should be a priority. Showing employees that you care about their health engenders loyalty to your company. By encouraging staff to remain with you in the longer term, you can further their own professional growth, as well as save resources in recruitment and training.
Eight ways to empower your staff to prioritise their health
1. Destigmatise the problem
Some staff may not want to disclose a musculoskeletal injury for fear that this implies they can no longer do their job. Recent research found a third of employees don’t want to discuss their condition with their employer. This can be particularly true of those musculoskeletal conditions linked to an ageing workforce, such as arthritis and back pain. Destigmatising health conditions should be an important part of your diversity and inclusion strategy.
Educate employees about the support services that are available to them. To encourage them to come forward, make sure they know that occupational health is there to help them stay in work, not to catch them out or make a case for managing them out of the business.
2. Offer early support
Research show that absence can be cut by two-thirds if employees are provided with access to support while they are still in work. Unfortunately, statistics show that 30% of managers wait until employees report absences before referring them to occupational health, and half of those wait until the employee has been off for over a month. Managers should be aware of the health needs of their team, and make sure that staff are aware of the support and resources on offer.
3. Provide health education and training
You may already offer role-based training to improve the skills and knowledge of your staff, but why restrict this to professional skills? Progressive companies provide health education programmes and workshops that cover topics such as nutrition, exercise, stress management and mental health.
Training should be tailored to sectors and teams, such as safe lifting techniques for warehouse staff, footcare for manufacturing staff or yoga and meditation for stressed-out managers. You should also consider offering incentives for participation, such as prizes for attending a target number of wellness-related classes, educational webinars or gym sessions.
4. Offer flexible work options
All employees have the legal right to request flexible working in the UK, but many either don’t realise, or don’t understand how it could work within the parameters of their role. By proactively offering flexible working, you can make it easier for staff to fit in physical exercise and other wellbeing activities, as well as medical appointments and other commitments. This may mean hybrid working, telecommuting, or flexible hours, and although not suitable for all areas of the business, can be a valuable aid to wellbeing.
5. Promote work-life balance
31% of UK employees say they do not have a good work-life balance, and almost 3 in 10 workers believe they are less productive in work due to poor work-life balance. It’s well-documented that over-worked employees are more likely to experience burnout, which as well as negatively impacting health, can reduce reliability and attendance.
Promote a healthy work-life balance by respecting employee time off and encouraging staff to use all their holidays and time off in lieu. Tiredness is especially detrimental in driving jobs, or where machinery is operated. 65% of job seekers prioritise work-life balance over pay and benefits, so aim to foster a company culture of sticking to healthy work hours.
6. Healthy snack and catering options
Healthy eating has an obvious and positive impact on physical health. Encouraging healthy eating at work can increase the energy levels of your staff and improve positivity and productivity.
Ensure break rooms are stocked with healthy snacks and drinks for better eating habits. Have fruit bowls piled high with tasty-looking fresh fruit which can be taken free of charge. Ensure the menu in your workplace canteen supports healthy choices, including plenty of vegetarian and low-sugar options. Be sure to cater for those with intolerances to ingredients such as dairy and gluten, as well as other common allergens. For staff who work off-site or are mobile, such as drivers, provide healthy meal options which they can eat on the go.
7. Offer health insurance and wellness programmes
Where possible, provide comprehensive health insurance coverage and wellness programmes to support employees in managing their health. Wellness programmes can include gym memberships, mental health resources, support for the sober-curious, and smoking cessation schemes. Having access to resources like this makes it easier for employees to address health concerns in a timely manner.
8. Create a positive work environment
Fostering a positive work environment that prioritises open communication will support the mental health of your staff and create a culture of mutual respect. Encourage regular check-ins with employees to assess their wellbeing and provide support where needed. Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to take care of their health, which will in turn create a company-wide environment of positivity.
How Express Medicals can help empower your staff in their workplace health
Empowering your staff to take care of their own health is not only a compassionate approach, but also a strategic one. Healthy employees are happier, more productive, and less likely to become absent or move on. By providing resources, education, and a supportive work environment, you can help your employees prioritise their health, benefiting both your organisation and your workforce.
At Express Medicals, we understand the specific needs of your sector and how the business role of an employee impacts on their health. We offer a range of services to support the health and wellbeing of your employees, including medical assessments, health surveillance, individual and group counselling, and mental health and MSK seminars and webinars.
Encouraging your team to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing - and proving the necessary support to do so - is an investment in the long-term success of your company. Fostering a culture of wellness will lead to a thriving, motivated, and loyal team that actively contributes to your organisation's growth and prosperity.
Links and sources
https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/employees-musculoskeletal-conditions-versus-arthritis-report/
https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working
https://workforceinsights.randstad.com/hubfs/REBR%202021/Randstad-EmployerBrand-Research-Global-Report-2021.pdf https://standout-cv.com/work-life-balance-statistics-uk
