WELFARE IN BUSINESS
Wellbeing is a key element of an organisation's employer brand which drives engagement and performance.
"According to the National Safety Council, workplace injuries and illnesses cost our economy 198.2 billion dollars a year. That's over half a billion dollars each day! Employers who invest in injury and illness prevention programs can expect significant cost savings in addition to reducing fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. Workplace safety is not only the right thing to do for your workers; it's the right thing to do for your business."
Dr. David Michaels, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor
WORKPLACE'S ABSENTEEISM AND CAUSES
MISSING WORK
73% frequent short absences
27% long term
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Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) (group of painful disorders of muscles, tendons and nerves)
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand problems
carpal tunnel syndrome
tendonitis
thoracic outlet syndrome
tension neck syndrome
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Stress
A qualified osteopaths team treats workers ( managers-middle managers-employees) directly at the corporate office.
WELFARE IN BUSINESS
advanced
innovative
unconventional
project to a middle term ( 2/3 years )
BENEFITS
To the organization
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a well-managed health and safety programme
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a positive and caring image
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improved staff morale
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reduced staff turnover
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reduced absenteeism
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increased productivity
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reduced health care/insurance costs
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reduced risk of fines and litigation
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tax reliefs
To the employee
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a safe and healthy work environment
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enhanced self-esteem
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reduced stress
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improved morale
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increased job satisfaction
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increased skills for health protection
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improved health
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improved sense of well-being
World Health Organization
"...the workplace directly influences the physical, mental, economic and social well-being of workers and in turn the health of their families, communities and society. It offers an ideal setting and infrastructure to support the promotion of health of a large audience. The health of workers is also affected by non-work related factors.
Proper attention to workers' health and safety has extensive benefits:
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healthy workers are productive and raise healthy families; thus healthy workers are a key strategy, i.e. goal, for overcoming poverty.
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workplace health risks are higher in the informal sector and small industry which are key arenas of action on poverty alleviation, where people can work their way out of poverty;
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safe workplaces contribute to sustainable development, which is the key to poverty reduction;
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the processes of protecting workers, surrounding communities and the environment for future generations have important common elements, such as pollution control and exposure reduction;
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much pollution and many environmental exposures that are hazardous to health arise from industrial processes, that may be influenced by occupational health and safety programmes;
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occupational safety and health can contribute to improving the employability of workers, through workplace (re)design, maintenance of a healthy and safe work environment, training and retraining, assessment of work demands, medical diagnosis, health screening and assessment of functional capacities;
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occupational health is fundamental to public health, for it is increasingly clear that major diseases need workplace programmes as part of the disease control strategy. "
Abstract of the Enterprise for Health ( EfH) Conference Publication
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In the European Union (EU) there were about 4.4 million accidents at work resulting in more than 3 days absence by the employees involved
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Each year in the EU 350 million working days are lost due to work-related health problems and almost 210 million due to accidents at work
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35% of workers consider that their health is negatively affected by their work
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The costs of workplace-related illnesses in Europe are estimated to be between 2.6% to 3.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Percentage of German employees affected by absence from work or reduced productivity during last 7 days prior interview
(Source: IGA Barometer 2007)
For each euro invested in the health of the worker, the company gains from 2.5 to 4.8
( source OHSA)
Company size Absent Unproductive
Very small 4% 13%
(< 10 Employees)
Small 2% 17%
(10-49 Employees)
Medium 5% 15%
(50-249 Employees)
Large 5% 11%
(>249 Employees)
All 4 % 14