Ensuring the ‘health’ and well-being of your business

As part of our commitment to attaining Worcestershire Works Well Accreditation we are on a mission to help our employees and our extended family; our clients and partners, to get fit and healthy.

Hundreds of working days are lost due to illness that companies could be doing more to help prevent.

The accreditation is aimed at enabling Worcestershire companies to demonstrate their commitment to creating the best possible working environment for their employees.

Today’s modern work place raises concerns over unhealthy ‘eating on the go’ diet, convenience eating and lack of exercise when caught up in office life.

Ill health has a direct influence on the economy, with the HSE publishing very worrying statistics: (2014/2015)

• 1.2 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
• 27.3 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
• It is estimated that 18 million working days are lost each year due to obesity
• £14.3 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions

The ill-effects of ill-health

In today’s feature we will be looking at the risks associated with unhealthy food choices and the effects of ill health on the workforce.

Obesity is a real concern for UK employers, with over half of the working population estimated to be overweight with 1 in 5 now classed as obese.

Poor nutrition, such as dehydration and unhealthy food choices, is associated with a heightened risk of developing conditions such as coronary heart disease, various types of cancer as well as type 2 diabetes.

It is important to maintain good employee health as the business impacts can be far reaching, impacting on productivity, with a high financial cost for a company through absenteeism and high potential staff turnover. In turn this can also lead to an increased number of lost working days and long term sick pay.

But what about the personal as well as the professional cost of low morale and declining job satisfaction? Ill health can affect not only the body, but also the mind, causing stress and other aspects affecting employee’s mental health.

Benefits of encouraging Healthy Eating for Employers

Adults can spend up to 60% of their waking hours in a work environment and may eat one or more meals and snacks at work.

As a company you are in a prime position to positively impact these meals. You don’t need an office canteen or to provide meals in order to deliver a positive corporate image and improve the mentality of your workforce.

Healthy eating contributes to the health of your business as according to the HSENI:

• 87% of employees feel they would be far more productive if they took time out during their working day to exercise and eat healthily

The Worcestershire Works Well Accreditation has 3 levels which in turn encompass 9 ‘Standards’ that include the promoting of good health, physical activity, leadership and health and safety.

For more information regarding the Worcestershire Works Well Accreditation, please visit www.worcestershireworkswell.co.uk or alternatively, contact Amy Worboys at amy.worboys@worcsregservices.gov.uk.

Sources: HSENI, Healthy Working Lives, HSE, Health Promotion Agency, NHS UK

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