3 ways employers can help stop MSK from being a pain at work
Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues such as back and neck pain are not new problems among the workforce, but they are becoming increasingly prevalent, with cases are growing at an alarming rate.
While the cause can be multifactorial, there is clearly a correlation between the growing number of MSK cases and the growth of remote and hybrid working, which have increased sedentary behaviours.
These issues come at a huge cost to employers, but the good news is that they may be combatted with the right preventative interventions.
Rising cost of MSK injury
According to the World Health Organisation, lower back pain is the leading cause of disability affecting 619 million people globally in 2020, with that number expected to rise to 843 million cases by 2050.
In the UK, MSK issues is currently one of the main contributors to increasing levels of workplace absence, and a huge burden to employers. The current cost of absence for a 1,000-person employer equates to around £2 million per year, across all sectors.
Here are 3 ways employers can stem the rise in MSK issues among their workforce:
1. Encourage physical activity during work hours
While posture and ergonomics are certainly important in offsetting musculoskeletal discomfort for employees, they are not as significant as increasing physical activity and avoiding ‘stillness’ when it comes to MSK health. Sedentariness has been linked not just to spinal disc degeneration in the lower back region, but also increases in the risk of developing chronic disease such as cardiometabolic issues as well as depression.
Encouraging regular movement breaks can bring significant benefits to employees’ MSK health. Suggest your employees take intermittent short breaks between tasks to stretch, go outside for a walk, or perform desk-based exercises. As little as two-five minutes a day of exercise has been found to combat the effects of sedentary behaviour and improve muscle function.
Providing employees with accessible, easy-to-do interventions such as virtual guided exercise sessions, Pilates and yoga can be a cost-effective and preventative strategy.
2. Offer benefits to support MSK health
Outside of working hours, encourage employees to join a local gym by providing discounted membership. At many gyms, employees can take part in programmes designed to improve their MSK health.
There are other employee benefits available to help combat the severity of MSK issues. For example, providing health insurance or health cash plans can allow your employees to claim back costs for medical, physiotherapy or sports massage treatment – giving your employees the opportunity to seek any treatment they need from a specialist.
This access to clinical intervention may be a necessity for those employees with more severe cases of MSK issues, and makes employees more likely to seek treatments than if they had to cover the costs themselves.
3. Foster a culture that values movement
As an employer, it is crucial to foster a culture of preventative wellbeing that helps employees look after their health and avoid developing MSK and other health issues. Regular movement and activity should be core to any wellbeing strategy. Promoting health literacy around the topic of movement, exercise and healthy lifestyle habits is crucial to engaging employees and help build better habits.
Investing in and prioritising physical wellbeing has been demonstrated time and time again to lead to less absenteeism, increased productivity, better retention rates and can ultimately slow the progression of the current health crisis.
To learn more about the strategies, benefits and tech that organisations are prioritising to support employee wellbeing, take a look at Benefex’s Wellbeing Report.
In partnership with Benefex
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