Investment in staff wellbeing is money well spent

News Article - 24 May 2012
Category: Business

According to a new report published by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), UK businesses have successfully saved millions of pounds through proactive investment in staff health and wellbeing.

Companies providing health-related benefits, such as physiotherapy services, achieve higher productivity and fewer absences that would normally be caused by musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain or joint injuries.

Three out of 10 managers believe workers calling in sick with a chronic condition are fit enough to come to work but would rather stay at home. A further third find these absences irritating because other workers must take on extra responsibilities to cover the absence. Twenty-two per cent believe fraudulent sick days are a drain on the business which they cannot afford.

From an employee viewpoint, half of those surveyed felt bosses did not care about their health while a further quarter fear reprisals at a later stage in their career if time is taken off for sickness.

Despite these findings, 63 percent of SMEs do not currently provide occupational health services to staff. This may cause substantial revenue losses for smaller companies in the future; earlier research carried out by the CSP revealed 36 per cent of employees work without a lunch break, whilst 31 percent experience physical pain at work at least once a week.

Phil Gray, chief executive of the CSP, warned companies to reconsider axing employee wellbeing policies even in the tough post-recession climate:

"[Cutting back on health initiatives] is a false economy, because ignoring a recurring condition can potentially lead to lower productivity and high temporary staffing costs."

Companies not investing in occupational health should consider doing so to save money in the long-term. In the post-recession climate it can be difficult to dedicate resource to such a move as senior managers often have packed schedules. Access HR software can help alleviate pressures by automating common business processes - such as recruitment and selection - and freeing up more time that can be put towards the creation of more effective and wide-ranging staff wellbeing policies.

For more information, please call Access on 0845 345 3300.

 

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