At the end of March, think tank Reform published its findings on the state of Occupational Health within the UK. The Fit for Recovery survey outlines the basic and essential truth that companies with healthier employees enjoy both higher levels of productivity and profits. Download the PDF of this survey here.
Advantage through health
In these unprecedented economic times, any advantage that a business can achieve could make a huge impact on its success. A companies employees are its most valuable assets, investing in their health and wellbeing makes perfect sense.
NHS to take the lead
Reform suggest that if more employers were to make healthcare a priority, this would have the effect of reducing the strain on the NHS budget. There is also a strong suggestion that the NHS (Britains largest employer) could grasp the baton in this area and set the example by which others could follow. At preset sickness rates within the NHS are almost 50% higher than in the private healthcare sector. It is calculated that if the National Health Service could make improvments to its sickness leveks, then £1 billion pounds a year could be saved.
Incentives
Fit for recovery also spotlights the role that health incentives could play in improving health within the workplace.
Individuals – through creative use of direct payments, of bonuses for healthy living and of charges for healthcare. The most forward looking business health insurance, small and large companies are already providing healthy living bonus schemes for their customers.
Your thoughts
What is your opinion on the Fit for Recovery report? Could businesses be doing more to protect the health of their employees?
