The workplace has, in recent years for some become one of
the unhealthiest environments in which to operate.
Employees find themselves in pressure situations where they
may be unclear of their job definition other than to appear
busy and create a positive impression.
Motivation levels are very low and workers do what is
necessary by agreeing, smiling and nodding heads in order
to climb the corporate ladder. Employees in the United
Kingdom work on average the longest hours per week in their
main job (compared with the rest of the EU) and this holds
for both men and women. Men's hours range from 39 per week
in Belgium and the Netherlands to 42 in Greece and 45 in
the United Kingdom. Women's hours all fall in the range 36
hours (Italy) to 41 hours (United Kingdom).
This issue needs to be addressed in order to improve the
state of "corporate health". According to statistics, over
2 million people are suffering from an illness or injury
which they believe is caused or made worse by their current
or past work (Health and Occupation Reporting Network).
An overwhelming 97% of senior HR professionals believe that
stress at work is the biggest threat to the future health
of the UK workforce.
Stress and musculoskeletal injuries are the most common
cause of absence in business, and according to the
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, staff on
average cost an employer £567 EACH per year in lost
earnings through absence, although this figure could
actually be tripled when the indirect costs of sickness in
loss of sales, reduced customer service and lower
productivity are taken into account.
Some 32.9 million working days are lost annually from
people taking time off due to their illnesses.
The Cost of Back Pain: Over 1.1 million people in the UK
experience musculoskeletal disorders caused by work, with
an estimated 12.3 million days lost annually because of
this.
The Cost of Work Related Stress: Stress is a natural
reaction people have to excessive pressures placed upon
them. While not an illness itself, if it is prolonged or
intense it can lead to mental and physical ill health. This
can include depression, back pain or heart disease.
In the United Kingdom as many as one in five people are
suffering form high levels of work related stress (that's
around 5 million workers). Around half a million
individuals report experiencing stress at a level they
believe made them ill. This results in approximately 13.4
million working days lost per year.
What Can Be Done? Studies have shown that not only does
exercise keep you looking and feeling your best, it helps
boost energy and concentration, therefore making you much
more productive at work. According to an MSNBC report, 60%
of workers that participated in a recent British study
indicated that taking an "exercise break" during the day
boosted their time management, mental performance, and
ability to meet deadlines. Researchers found that exercise
provided a performance boost of up to 15%. It also improved
worker's overall mood at the end of the day. The type of
exercise, the duration, and the intensity didn't seem to
matter. The effect was observed over a wide range of
activities including yoga, strength training, and aerobics.
We recommend taking a couple of small 15-30 minute breaks
during the day is a great way to renew your focus,
concentration, and energy. This is especially true for
creative knowledge workers who have to concentrate
intensely for long periods of time over the course of a
typical workday. Exercise is a great activity for break
time because it not only gives you an immediate energy
boost, but it also helps you release stress and deal with
job pressures. Some activities to consider during your
breaks include light stretching or talking a stroll
outside. If you'd rather not sweat too much while at work,
you can save more intense physical activity for lunchtime
(when you can shower) or after work.
"Corporate wellness" programmes are a growing sector within
many businesses to promote the physical health of employees
for the purposes of increasing productivity and reducing
absenteeism.
The format of most programmes usually involves health
checks, seminars and cut priced gym memberships. This
service is a huge step in the right direction and should be
promoted to all businesses. Although this alone may make an
employee feel upbeat about their job for a little longer it
doesn't really address the real issues.
Research has suggested that nearly half of all Brits blame
the demands of the workplace for preventing them from
getting to the gym, so what use is a cut price membership
if you can't find the time to exercise??
----------------------------------------------------
David Osgathorp Owner, All About You Performance &
Wellbeing. Unit 3 Broadbent Close, Highgate, London, N6
5JW. Tel: 020 8348 9706, Mob: 07779 729122. If you would
like more information then pleas contact us via the
website: http://aayou.co.uk/default.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment