Workplace environments are where many of us spend most of our week. As employers you want our staff to be productive, need fewer sick days, avoid work-related injuries and enjoy their jobs, because we know, these are part of the recipe to a business that is buzzing and kicking goals. Sometimes we can forget that there are many factors that can impact our employees at any given time which is out of our control, these may be…
But what we don’t always see is the day to day health concerns that can be affecting your employees. Some are minor, easily managed and will eventually be recovered from, but other chronic health conditions remain, and become the cause of disruption to your day to day business operation. The BIGGEST chronic diseases facing our workforce today are…
These are issues we only notice once someone has a long stint of sick days, a work place injury or lowered productivity. These are linked to lifestyle habits such as…
Let me hand you some statistics…. From Safe Work Australia 2013-14:
The Australian Bureau of statistics outlines that in 2017-2018:
A study by Mitchell, R. J., and Bates, P. (2011) mentions, employees at risk of ill health or have a current chronic condition, could potentially cost a business $15 to $1601 or more per year, compared to healthy employees. They continued to point out, to a business with 10,000 employees, this could cost millions of dollars. What is the answer? WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMS
By providing your staff with the support to improve their lifestyle through ‘Health and Wellbeing Programs’, makes them feel more valued and creates a positive workplace culture. Programs that support your employees to improve their health save you money through:
They can also benefit a company financially. An article by Comcare (n.d), outlined strong evidence that when these programs are managed well, staff engagement can rise from 7% to 55% and alongside this, innovation and creativity can also increase from 20% to 72%. The flow on effect makes an organisation desirable and can give them the edge when competing for skilled employees. HOW DO YOU DO THIS? For a program to be effective, supporting employees one on one as well as in small groups allows for health practitioner as well as their co-workers to create an environment that instils wellbeing and drives change from within. Focus on gradual change by reducing or removing factors that sabotage health, such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and forming new habits that support wellbeing, such as regular exercise, healthy eating routines and choices, as well as lifestyle guidance to reduce stress and anxiety. When engaging Wellness Expert (WE), they will assess how the workplace environment is equipped, facilities available and the current environment. This will differ from place to place, as different businesses have different requirements. They will identify the needs of your employees, the requirements and resources available to both the employees and the WE and work from there. It is a collaborative process that will advance and mould to the ever-changing needs of the workplace and employees. If you’re an employer that is looking to change or improve their culture and values their employees, focus on the following…
Safework Australia, (2018, 20 Sept). Disease and injury statistics. Retrieved from https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/statistics-and-research/statistics/disease-and-injuries/disease-and-injury-statistics Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2019, 26 Sept). 6324.0 – work related injuries, Australia, jul 2017-jun 2108. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6324.0 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2019, 27 Mar). Chronic disease. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/chronic-disease/overview Mitchell, R. J., & Bates, P. (2011). Measuring health-related productivity loss. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3128441/ Australian Government, Comcare (n.d). Benefits to business: the evidence for investing into health and wellbeing. Retrieved from https://www.comcare.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/99303/Benefits_to_business_the_evidence_for_investing_in_worker_health_and_wellbeing_PDF,_89.4_KB.pdf
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March 2020
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