Should Business Invest in the Health of their Workers?

Dr Chris PughManaging Director

Duradiamond Healthcare

    

   

Easy answer – Yes!But Why?

Would like to focus on two areas:Absence

Well being

    

   

According to the CBI Absence and workplace health

survey 2010:

•The cost of absence in 2009/10 is £16.8 bn

•The average rate of absence in 2009 was 6.4 days

per employee, a decline from 6.7 days in 2007

•Employee absence cost the UK nearly £17bn in

2009

•The average direct cost of absence was £595 per

employee in 2009

What can be done about it?

    

   

•The longer an employee is absent from work, the

lower the probability of a return to work. (Robinson et

al., 1997)

•Belief in own dysfunction is a significant factor in

duration of absence; this tends to worsen over time.

(Pearson 2001)

•Early intervention results in significant reduction in

medical practitioner visits and shorter work absences.

(Zigenfus et al., 2000)

    

   

• After 5 weeks absence, significant impact on

workability. After 6 months absence only a 50%

likelihood that the employee will return to work.

(CIPD 2003)

• At 12 months this falls to 25% and after 2 years

the chance is almost zero. (British Society for

Rehabilitation Medicine 2001; Faculty of

Occupational Medicine 2000).

    

   

•“Process driven”

•Late intervention – referral at 4 weeks, date of first

appointment later

•Passive advice

•Likely effect

•No or little effect on duration/cost of absence

•Worth the investment?

    

   

•Action

- First days of absence

- Pre absence

•Self Referral

•Early referral

    

   

•Musculo skeletal Disorders

–Physiotherapy

–Ergonomics, conditioning/education

•Mental Health

–Clinical Psychology

–Organisational factors, resilience

•Early Specialist Referral

–Linkage Private Healthcare

–Cost/benefit

    

   

•Phased return

•Defined, agreed program leading to normal duties

within agreed period

•Redeployment

•In the event of failure retirement/capability

    

   

•Line manager

•Human Resources

•Occupational Health

•Employee

•Will require management training

    

   

Total Absence Performance Against 3% Target

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

06/07

07/08

08/09

09/10

10/11

Target

    

   

•Improving Personal Health Practices (people with

three of the following risk factors, smoking, obesity,

low exercise or high alcohol intake can have up to

50% more absence from work

•Effort directed at:

•Individuals

•Groups

•Securing management commitment

•Long term benefit

    

   

Enhanced Rolling Programme

•Work Related

•Non Work Related

•Site surgeries

•Lifestyle medicals

•National campaigns

•Identified issues

•Hot topics

Delivered in the workplace

Linkage with Other Organisations

•NHS

•Men’s Health Forum

•Homerton Hospital Sexual Health Clinics

•NHS resources such as smoking cessation

    

   

•“Health behavioural change”

- Line manager

- Employee

•Increased personal accountability

    

   

•Efficiency

•Quality

•Impact

    

   

•Is worth investing in Health of your Employees

•Need to be interventionist and intervene early

•Focus on most important issues

•Develop co-operation from all stakeholders

•It’s about changing behaviours

•Measure Success

    

   

Any Questions?