Employers are required by law to make sure their workplace is safe and doesn’t cause their employees any physical or mental health issues. 

But there are also business benefits in making sure you have a healthy workforce. Investing in the well-being of your employees can result in reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, and improved staff morale. 

Occupational health is an umbrella term that covers services, approaches, and processes that are designed to help improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of your employees. 

What are the benefits of Occupational Health for businesses? 

When it comes to investing in occupational health, the main advantages are clear - a healthy workforce is a productive and efficient workforce. But what are the other benefits for your business?

Employee engagement

By implementing occupational health services across your business, it signals to your employees that you care about their wellbeing. This can lead to them feeling appreciated and increase their motivation.

Reduced absenteeism

By offering your employees access to occupational health services such as counselling or physiotherapy, it can help address any employee health issues earlier, before it becomes a bigger problem and results in absenteeism. 

Retaining experienced older staff

As experienced employees get older, they are more likely to suffer from issues with their health. By embracing occupational health measures across your business, you’re more likely to keep your older staff happier, healthier, and valuable members of your workforce for longer. 

Improving business reputation to attract the best talent

By investing in occupational health initiatives, you can help build your reputation as a business that really cares about its employees. This can help you attract and recruit the best talent to your organisation.

The importance of physiotherapy services  for your business

One of the biggest causes of employee absenteeism and ill health at work is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Examples of MSDs include neck pain, back pain and repetitive strain injuries. 

Physiotherapists are able to work with employees across your organisation to help implement both preventative measures and reactive treatments to address MSDs. 

The Chartered Society Of Physiotherapy estimates that 80% of people who received physiotherapy for their musculoskeletal disorder didn’t have to take time off work, and were able to continue working normally. So, there are significant benefits for business efficiencies and business continuity if you include physiotherapy services as part of your occupational health programme. 

Preventative measures that a physiotherapist might help your business with include training on correct lifting and handling techniques, conducting workstation reviews, and education around healthy working practices. 

Reactive treatments offered by physiotherapists might include physiotherapy sessions that include exercises designed to alleviate stiffness or pain and help to restore normal movement and function to parts of the body affected by MSD. 

How can physiotherapists help with Occupational Health for remote workers? 

With remote working being more commonplace these days, it’s important for businesses to understand how an employee’s home setup might be impacting their occupational health. 

Physiotherapists can advise on the best types of chairs, desks, monitor risers and other office equipment that might help reduce the risk of employees suffering from MSD while working at home. 

It’s also possible to conduct remote physiotherapy sessions over video conferencing solutions like Microsoft Teams, Zoom or even Facetime. 

By connecting with employees over video, it’s possible to have ongoing physiotherapy assessments. This can include a series of questions about overall wellbeing and can also include exercises to help monitor an employee’s movement and function. 

If any rehabilitation and hands-on physiotherapy are needed, a face-to-face appointment can be arranged. 

Top tips for helping employees stay healthy in the workplace

One of the most important occupational health factors for helping employees stay healthy in the workplace is to develop a culture where employees feel safe in talking about their physical and mental health.  

It’s important that your employees feel comfortable reporting any health issues as soon as they can, and that they are not afraid of how the business might react. 

Other tips that can help employees stay healthy in the workplace include: 

•  - Maintaining a good posture
•  - Stretching muscles regularly
•  - Taking regular breaks, as needed
•  - Proper training on how to lift and carry items
•  - Drinking more water (and reducing caffeine intake)
•  - Working at arm’s length from screens and monitors
•  - Policies on not lifting items that are too large or too heavy

Find out more about physiotherapy services in the workplace

Investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees has significant business benefits and cements your reputation as a business that cares. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about how physiotherapy can support your occupational health initiatives, contact our team to arrange an online consultation. 

All of our expert physiotherapists at CK Physiotherapy have undergone extensive training as occupational health workers and are able to support businesses across a variety of sectors. We’re able to provide physiotherapy sessions for businesses on-site, or remotely. 

Get in touch today and find out how physiotherapy can help your employees and your business. 

References and further reading

HSE – Occupational Health Overview

NHS Health at Work – What is Occupational Health?

Chartered Management Institute – Healthy Workplace, Healthy Workforce

Chartered Society Of Physiotherapy – Occupational Health

ACAS – Using Occupational Health at Work

HSE – Managing musculoskeletal disorders at work