There were about 137 million working days lost to illness and injury in the UK last year – the equivalent of 4.3 days per worker.
Those figures, from the Office for National Statistics, are positive in that they show the lowest rate of sickness since these records were first kept in 1993. They do, however, help to show some of the most common complaints that keep workers from the workplace.
The figures reveal:
- Coughs and colds accounted for 24.8 per cent of the overall figure – accounting for 34 million lost working days
- After that, back, neck and limb problems were the second most common cause of absence, accounting for 22.4 per cent of the total
- Mental health issues caused 11.5 per cent of the working days lost to illness
So, how can businesses do their bit to keep sickness to a minimum and ensure workers are looked after, morale is higher and productivity is strong?
Infections
Coughs and colds are the chief cause of workplace sickness as we’ve seen above, but how can you stop them? Well, while it’s probably impossible to completely eradicate viruses among your workforce, there are things you can do to prevent them from spreading and minimise the impact.
Consider the following:
- A good cleaner is worth their weight in gold. Employ a team to clean your workplace thoroughly on a regular basis – with a ‘deep clean’ every so often too. Keyboards, phones and door handles could be a breeding ground for germs so pay special attention to these. A clean office has a decent chance of being a healthy office.
- Keep a good stock of soap, tissues, wipes and handwash. You want to make it as easy as possible for your staff to avoid germs.
- Pay special attention to kitchen areas. Ensure cloths and sponges are regularly replaced to avoid employees spreading germs this way. A dirty kitchen could harbour a host of issues.
- Encourage your employees to have their flu jab by promoting places nearby where they can get one. Allow them the time needed to attend appointments for this.
- Make sure employees take time off if they are sick. Taking one or two days off to clear a cold could prevent this spreading to others. You might even be able to offer people the chance to work from home occasionally if they feel otherwise well enough to work and want to ensure they meet a tight deadline, say. Dedication is to be encouraged, but not at the expense of health.
Back pain
Back, neck and limb pain can result from two different sources – inactivity or activity. Office workers sitting still for most of the day with poor posture put their health at risk, as do those involved in heavy work that involves lots of lifting, bending and exertion.
There are three things you can do as an employer:
- Firstly, make sure your employees are adequately trained. That includes knowing how to lift and handle heavy goods properly and also ‘best practice’ when it comes to sitting at their desk and taking regular breaks.
- You can also invest in the right equipment. From seats that promote good posture to arm and wrist rests and monitor stands right through to equipment that will help to lift heavy goods. If you make it your business to make your employees comfortable, they’re less likely to put undue stress and strain on their body.
- Why not offer a massage or some physiotherapy to employees? Short monthly sessions can help to ease smaller aches and pains and nip them in the bud before they escalate. Some employees also go one step further and offer private medical insurance to their employees. If this is within your budget it could be a highly lucrative perk that makes you an attractive proposition as a company to work for.
Mental health conditions
The charity Mind estimates that one in six workers is suffering from a mental health problem – meaning that most workplaces will need to consider how they can support a staff member with this sort of condition. From short-term stress to wider anxiety and depression, mental health problems can manifest themselves in a number of different ways.
To help with this, businesses should:
- Realise the importance of conversation. One in five people feel unable to tell their manager that they feel stressed at work, while almost half of people with a mental health condition haven’t told their boss about it. Regular one-to-one chats in which people can talk openly and honestly are necessary. Make time to talk.
- Be flexible with employees. The chance to tweak working hours slightly or alter working conditions might lift a great burden from an employee.
- Manage workloads effectively to avoid overloading employees.
- Do all you can to create a positive working environment. While you can’t guarantee that people will be happy at work, you can at least avoid making it a chore to be at work.
- Look into arranging training for managers. Knowing how to spot and tackle these issues isn’t necessarily easy, but this is an important part of the people management aspect of leaders in your business.
Respiratory issues
It’s important that the working environment is positive, but it’s also necessary that it’s safe to work in too. That’s probably obvious when it comes to handling specialist chemicals, say, but it’s also important that you consider the air your staff breathe as they work.
Make sure you:
- Either use air conditioning or open windows to ensure a decent flow of fresh air throughout your workplace.
- Ensure that you consider ventilation for people who are engaged in industrial processes. These days, even things like spray booths are designed with this in mind to stop your employees from suffering from serious breathing problems.
- Check to ensure you are using the safest chemicals and products possible for the work you are engaged in.
- Invest in proper masks and protective equipment to safeguard your workers.
- Ban smoking. Maybe designate an outdoor area clear of the main workplace for any smokers you have on the books.
- Have a record of employees with respiratory conditions and pay special attention to their wellbeing.
Employers will never eliminate all sickness, but they play an important role in ensuring that the UK’s sickness record makes positive reading. By focusing on the four key areas above, businesses can reduce the risk that the workplace creates – or adds to – issues with sickness.
