‘Prevention rather than a cure’ is something we’ve all probably heard at some point; whether it be about general health, anti-ageing, or home DIY issues- it’s a phrase that can be applied to most things in our lives.
In particular, this phrase and philosophy is extremely relevant to checking up on our health. NHS letters, attending appointments, and even home remedies or day to day self-care routines are useful practices. But what if people often forget to check-in on themselves or don’t know where to begin?
The busy working lifestyles around the UK mean that more often than not, our health can be a little neglected or even damaged. Issues such as musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, lack of exercise, stress and anxiety or poor mental health in general, can be caused by or worsened by work. This causes an array of problems ranging from high business costs, a lack of return on investment (ROI), work absences, and of course, ill health of employees.
That’s why it’s extremely important to manage employees' health in the workplace with occupational health and wellbeing support. Regularly checking-in with health surveillance, wellbeing programmes, and clinical support (covering mental and physical issues), are key to a successful and thriving workforce. It means that there would be less absences, less presenteeism and instead, increased levels of productivity and higher ROI.
It's more cost effective when investing in occupational health as it helps prevent sickness, (especially long-term sickness), by making sure employees' mental and physical health are being looked after. High absences and replacing staff costs more, so it’s useful to try and avoid these things as much as possible.
With all that being said, investing in occupational health is an all-round benefit for businesses as it can help ‘cure’ employees and aid them when it comes to returning to work. Through clinical help, businesses can identify the necessary adjustments needed for that person in order to have a comfortable return to work, without feeling like they have to drop out of the workforce or go back on long-term sick.
Employers have a duty of care towards their employees and it’s crucial that preventative strategies, as well as reactive strategies, are in place so that staff feel supported with their overall health and wellbeing.
