Workplace absence is always a hot topic, with the average worker being absent from work for 8.4 days per year. A survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that the most working days were lost to musculoskeletal problems, such as back and neck pain. While these conditions result in more prolonged absences than any other condition, interestingly, minor illnesses such as the common cold were the most common reason for sickness.
The ONS survey found that 15 million people took time off work due to stress, anxiety or depression. However, with 40% of people with mental health issues not telling their employer, we aren’t seeing the full picture. Much work has been done to lessen the mental health issues stigma, but it’s troubling to see that even in 2015, people are still reluctant to speak up as they feel they’re at risk of discrimination.
Managing illness at the workplace is crucial and it’s important to foster a culture that allows staff to speak up if they have any concerns that could affect their wellbeing or performance. Do you run your own business and are keen to make employee wellbeing a priority? Here are a few ways you can promote a healthy workplace.
Reward your staff
If you want to attract the best people, they need to be rewarded. This doesn’t just include a competitive salary! Gym memberships, 401(k) plans, ongoing training, and healthcare, are all perks you should consider – statistics show that employees are 38% more engaged when they feel valued.
Develop your employees
Most of us don’t want to turn up to work doing the same thing day in, day out – and skilled people won’t stay in a job if they don’t see their position developing. That doesn’t mean you need to put people on training courses for the sake of it, though. Talk to your staff and find out first-hand what they want and draw up a plan from there.
Involve staff in company-wide changes
Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to consult your staff with every single decision you make – it’s your business! If you have any major changes lined up, however, it’s important to communicate this to your staff and welcome their feedback and input. This makes your staff feel involved with the direction of the business and it’s useful to take their feedback onboard too.
This is just a start, too – you’ll know better than anyone else what works for your business. You’ll need to evaluate progress and determine what satisfies your staff. This can be a long process, but ultimately, happy employees make the workplace better.
