Research
Countless studies reveal that a build-up of the psychological and physical demands of work can eventually lead to poor health and disease, including:
- Muscle and bone related disorders, and chronic pain
- Stress related ill health, including depression and dependency on drugs and alcohol
- Suppressed immune system function and a greater susceptibility to illness and disease, including cardiorespiratory disease, high blood pressure, stroke and types of cancer
- Greater absenteeism from work
- Accelerated ageing and early death
The Health and Safety Executive annual figures reveal staggering numbers of work-related illnesses such as musculoskeletal disorders and stress, which lead to absenteeism from work. The poor health of employees leads to companies losing thousands of man-hours each year, reducing company work capacity and turnover. A Confederation of British Industries report highlights that absenteeism from work is costing the British economy £2.5 billion per year. Astonishingly, 4 million sick days per year are taken solely for stress related issues.
In addition, present exercise and nutrition methods are proving to be insufficient for maintaining health and combating stress, often worsening the employee's health status, increasing levels of stress and further reducing the individual's ability to cope with pressures of work. It is essential for companies to focus seriously on employee health, and to wisely invest in effective health initiatives. In this area of corporate life, companies of the Far East are far ahead of their Western counterparts.
For decades giant corporations of Japan, China and South Korea have sensibly invested in the health and well-being of their staff. Many of their leading companies provide exercise programmes as an integral part of daily workplace life, which have been shown to greatly benefit employee health and work ethic, together with the overall health and performance of companies. They believe that it provides top executives as well as company staff the competitive edge that makes all the difference.
There is compelling evidence that a large portion of company expenditure on health-related costs is preventable by means of a company health programme. Well planned, comprehensive company health programmes have been shown to be cost-effective, particularly when such a programme is matched to the health problems of the specific employees.
Repeated studies have clearly shown that corporate health programmes have the following benefits:
Reduction in the number of injuries that occur in the workplace, not just from accidents, but also from repetitive motion, such as using the keyboard and operating machinery- Potential to lower health care and insurance expenditures
- Significantly reduced levels of absenteeism, with resultant financial savings
- Employers with corporate health care programmes report documented improvements in job attitude, work effectiveness, energy level and overall morale among programme participants- all vital factors in enhancing work rate
- Improved ability to attract and retain key personnel
- Greater employee allegiance
- Improved public perception of the company
The expenditures of launching a health care initiative are minimal compared to the benefits. The workplace is an ideal setting for addressing the health and well-being of employees (Centre for Health Promotion Studies 2001).