Expert view: Dr Zofia Bajorek of IES details the value of occupational health
In the past decade, there has been a proliferation of research highlighting that good employee health is important for business, the individual and society. However, recent ONS statistics on sickness absence and the rise in those economically inactive suggest that employers need to do more to provide positive organisational wellbeing cultures and implement wellbeing practices to help employees remain in work.
Many workplace wellbeing practices are reactive, signposting employees to services once ‘crisis point’ has been reached.
This is where occupational health can make a big difference. It can be used to identify causes of workplace ill-health, and professional occupational therapists can recommend tailored workplace adjustments to support people to remain healthy.
Early intervention
However, only 45% of workers in Britain have access to some form of occupational health, and, with an estimated 1.8 million employees reporting work-related ill-health, there is still some way to go to help people stay and succeed in work.
Early intervention is key. Instead of pulling employees out of a fast-flowing river, the quicker employers can go upstream to understand and prevent what is pushing them in, the better for everyone.
