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“Protecting the health of your people has never been more important,” says Bupa UK Chief People and Procurement Officer Tom Hoosen-Webber.
“Record numbers of Britons are dropping out of the workforce because of poor health, more employees are living with chronic illness and wait times for healthcare are getting longer.”
The implications are alarming.
An Institute for Public Policy Research report calculated that lost earnings due to long term sickness cost the UK economy £43bn in 2021, equivalent to around 2% of GDP, and that lost production took another £7bn out of the economy.
Understanding the issues
Meeting this challenge will require a deeper understanding of the issues driving poor health, workplace interventions to support employee wellbeing, and putting strategies in place to help people with long-term illness stay in work.
There are now 2.5 million people not in work due to long-term health problems — a 25% jump since the beginning of the pandemic.
Long Covid is thought to play a significant role in this with symptoms including fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle pain and breathlessness, while musculoskeletal issues affecting the back or neck have risen sharply too.
Mental health, particularly among young adults, has been hit hard with lifestyle choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of activity and obesity all further affecting the aging population.
Office for National Statistics data should be a wake-up call as the largest relative rise in long-term illness (42%) has been seen in those aged 25 to 34 – an important age when many are more seriously planning, starting and establishing their careers.
Support reduces risk
“We know that providing the right employee support reduces the impact of mental ill-health, musculoskeletal problems, obesity and many of the health issues driving the rise in long-term illness,” Hoosen-Webber continues.
“The dividends in terms of talent retention, better engagement and increased productivity underline the strong business case for taking a proactive and preventative approach.”
For more on how supporting health in the workplace can benefit your organisation, take a look at the full article here.
This article has been abbreviated by Health & Protection.