What do you understand by the phrase “Wellbeing at Work”?
In 2015 the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) defined it as: “promoting a culture that improves the health and wellbeing of employees is good management and leads to healthy and productive workplaces”.
Why does Wellbeing at Work matter?
- Increasing working age population
- Job satisfaction
- Enhanced productivity
- Greater sense of achievement
- Cost implications
- Decreased sickness absence cost to the employer as well as cost of presenteeism (employees at work but working with a condition – estimated to be 4 times the cost of sickness absence)
- Decreased sick pay for the individual
- Less cost to the health system
- Increased economic benefits
- Better sense of self esteem and confidence, reducing fatigue, improving mood
One of the biggest causes of staff sickness is joint and muscle pain.
This has been identified by the Health and Safety Executive as a priority because “it has the potential to ruin people’s lives and place a heavy cost on employers and society”.
However simple things can be put in place to “prevent or minimise Musculoskeletal Disorders….which are cost effective”.
There is also a huge link of pain and suffering to mood, stress and anxiety. Lack of sleep from pain can cause:
- fatigue
- irritability
- potential for mistakes
In the Tees Valley, the Office for National Statistics found that some parts fall well below the national average for happiness, anxiety and life satisfaction. Click here for more information.
So how can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapists can identify the cause of the pain and the reason it exists in the first place. They can resolve the symptoms and help prevent recurrence. Advice can range from desk set up and activity at work to lifestyle recommendations. We also give specific treatments and individual exercise programmes. We are specialists in helping maintain a healthy and fit population.
In a recent study by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), 80% of staff receiving physiotherapy through early intervention were able to stay in work.
How can NYP help?
Here at NYP, Kate specialises in providing services for Wellbeing at Work. She has been providing a regular service at local business Labman Automation for 3 years. She has assessed and advised over 60 people there. Issues have ranged from very recent sports injuries, causing difficulty at work, to ongoing aches and pains. All of them have stayed in work. Here is a review from Andrew Whitwell, Managing Director of Labman:
“The ongoing well-being of our staff is a high priority for Labman It has been great to find a local company with the knowledge to come in and help with custom physiotherapy plans.”
We are also delighted to have begun working for Tees Components to treat their employees who are suffering with pain.
This service has also been featured in the North East England Chamber of Commerce Contact bulletin.
What else can we provide?
Kate has contributed to the “Wellbeing At Work eBook for How’s Business”, The Growth Hub for York, East Riding and North Yorkshire (November 2016). You can download a copy by clicking here.
Additionally Kate’s knowledge can be accessed via presentations. She has delivered many on Wellbeing At Work. These include at Hambleton Council’s “Lunch and Learn” and “Breakfast Briefing” sessions.
As sponsor at the NEECC Summer Social, Kate gave a short speech which led to this tweet from James Ramsbotham, Chief Exec of the NEECC:
“Thank you so much for sponsoring today’s Summer Social and for your inspiring talk which brilliantly engaged and energised everyone”
There were also complements on Linked In:
“What a great speech you delivered!”
“You did very well with standing and speaking; Well done!”
For more information on our presentations, DSE assessments and on-site physiotherapy services please call us on 01642 205975.