A pain in the neck (or back): The true cost of MSK in the workplace
This is true. However, studies show that employees are just as likely to develop MSK disorders from spending much of their time sitting.
According to new research from AXA PPP healthcare, nearly half (46%) of workers spend four to six hours sitting during office hours and a further 25% spend seven to eight hours being seated.
For most, the time they spend sitting isn’t just limited to office hours, as a large percentage of workers commute to work. Some 27% spend 30–60 minutes seat bound during their daily commute and additionally 17% say their seated commute can take 1–2 hours.
Worryingly, 50% have also admitted to being seated for two to three hours a day during their own leisure and home time, and a further 31% declared even more hours, clocking in four to six hours of lounging time.
What is particularly concerning about these findings is that almost three quarters (73%) of respondents have experienced MSK problems such as back, neck and shoulder pain, which are all caused by long periods of immobility. Despite this, half (51%) of workers are ‘okay’ with their sedentary lifestyle and a third (33%) admit to being ‘happy’ with it.
The Office for National Statistics states that the latest data for 2016 show that 30.8 million work days are lost each year due to MSK issues.
MSK pain is debilitating, costly and its causes are notoriously difficult to diagnose and cure. People who suffer from MSK pain often have disturbed sleeping patterns, poor concentration, lack of mobility and numerous other physiological issues. In addition, the effects of chronic back pain can also blight personal relationships and social interaction.
How should employers deal with MSK?
The impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing is obvious, but from an employer’s perspective, understanding how to deal with MSK pain in terms of treatment and prevention is essential to productivity and bottom line results.
MSK issues have an obvious high impact on businesses and their profitability. By investing in a health and wellbeing strategy, companies can provide employees with access to both advice and treatment. Early intervention is the key to ensuring a swift return to work and/or full productivity.
For example, clinicians recommend that non-specific lower back pain should be initially treated with information and advice encouraging movement and gentle exercise; this often fails because for many sufferers it is counter-intuitive – if you are in pain, the last thing you want to do is increase your movement.
The significant impact that MSK problems has on company productivity is of particular concern to businesses trying to manage and control absentee levels. If seeking treatment through the NHS, employees can often be prevented from returning to work by delays in getting GP appointments to arrange referrals for further treatment.
But even once a GP referral has been obtained, by its nature MSK pain is usually viewed as non-urgent and non-life threatening, meaning that patients requiring MSK treatment (e.g. physiotherapy) via the NHS often endure long waiting times. Waiting times vary dramatically across the UK but six to eight weeks is not uncommon, and this is after the GP referral has been obtained.
Businesses looking to reduce the impact of MSK issues on their productivity are increasingly using private treatment options, since investing in employee MSK health impacts directly on absence rates.
Most of the main UK private medical insurers now offer MSK assistance without GP referrals, usually via a specific telephone triage service that provides initial advice and onward physiotherapy.
In addition, health cash plan providers target MSK issues with significant ‘therapies’ benefit allowances offering direct access to physiotherapy, chiropractor, osteopathy and massage treatment, again without the need for GP referral.
These benefits can provide employees with treatment pathways within a matter of days rather than several weeks. With the variety of options available, suitable benefits can be tailored to match businesses of all sizes and benefit budgets.
Having witnessed the effects of MSK pain first hand, I fully understand the problems chronic back pain can have on individuals and their families. Ongoing and recurring pain is not only debilitating for the sufferer but can result in many lost working days – even weeks!
The pressures on the NHS mean that diagnosis and treatment are regularly subject to delays – often over several months. Any business looking to improve productivity and/or decrease absenteeism would be well advised to review options in relation to MSK interventions.
‘Bearing in mind the high cost of MSK issues in reduced productivity, businesses are well advised to research and invest in employee benefit options that will allow employees to access early intervention, treatment and advice, thereby reducing lost work days and underperformance’.
Ed Watling is employee benefits consultant (healthcare) at Mattioli Woods.
This article was provided by Mattioli Woods.
