Occupational health services help to keep employees well, both in and outside of work. Acting as an all-round service, occupational health supports the whole workforce, physically and mentally. It promotes and maintains the wellbeing of all employees and ensures support to help protect and maintain staff with health issues in the workplace. Our latest article explores what occupational health is and what are its benefits to businesses and employees alike.
The aim
The aim of occupational health is to prevent work-related illness and injury by:
- Encouraging safe working practices to meet health and safety compliance and to avoid work-related health problems
- Monitoring the health of the workforce
- Supporting the management of sickness absence, including managing difficulties in coping on return after being absent;
- Advising on reasonable adjustments to your working conditions
The benefits to employees
A happy workforce is invaluable for the success of a business and when employees have a clear understanding of how to handle key activities, whether it’s reporting an incident, responding to an issue, or working through a problem, they feel valued and in turn will increase motivation, productivity and performance at work.
Occupational health services can provide direct help for staff who suffer both work and non-work related ill health and it provides them with an opportunity to discuss and resolve any worries, medical problems or personal difficulties they may be facing in and out of work.
Workplace injury and illness are a form of hardship for employees. Tens of thousands of employees suffer long-term and chronic injuries every single year. This destroys their quality of life and makes it difficult for employees to work at their best. Occupational health can empower them to reduce the risk of injury and illness through proactive action.
The benefits to employers
Addressing occupational health concerns isn’t optional. All employers have a legal duty of care to their employees, and providing occupational health services for staff can bring significant benefits for all organisations, regardless of size. Organisations that look after their employees are more attractive places to work and this in turn and can support the recruitment and retention rates and reduce costs associated with staff turnover.
Work-related injuries, diseases and deaths result in high economic costs to employers. The negative effects of poor occupational health can include costly early retirement, the loss of skilled staff, absenteeism and presenteeism (when employees come into work despite illness, increasing the likelihood of mistakes), and high medical costs and insurance premiums.
Employers must increasingly consider how they can create a better working environment and take care of those who work for them and good occupational health secures long-term benefits for businesses and the wider community.
For further information on occupational health services, please contact us here.