Occupational health – the secret to high performing companies?
Over time there has been a slow but steady evolution in the thinking about what underpins organisational performance. Many factors, such as adaptability, efficiency and strong leadership, are universally agreed constants however the role of employee wellbeing is less certain.
As more leaders recognise that happy, healthy employees do a better job, the importance of taking a holistic approach to employee wellbeing is certainly growing and in particular, we are seeing more of a focus on maintaining the mental and physical health of the workforce.
Based on numerous studies we know that healthier employees cost less because they make less insurance claims and take less sick days, but new research is showing that employee wellbeing is also closely linked - and perhaps even crucial to - overall organisational performance.
This was highlighted by a recent study that found employee sickness cost the UK a whopping £103bn in 2023, an increase of £30bn since 20182 which was almost entirely caused by lower productivity rather than sick days.
Other studies have found similar associations. The London School of Economics analysed meta-data from almost two million employees across 49 industries in 73 countries and found a clear link between higher employee wellbeing, higher productivity and overall firm performance.
Employees with higher wellbeing are also more engaged - almost twice as likely to be engaged and enjoy their work in fact - and it's well documented that engagement is a key metric for performance, reducing turnover, improving morale and delivering higher returns to shareholders.
All of this suggests that not only does ensuring your employees are happy and healthy reduce the obvious costs - lowering insurance premiums, reducing compensation claims, and minimising absenteeism and turnover - it also increases productivity significantly and consequently your bottom line.
So, if healthier, more resilient teams are the hallmark of high performing companies, the real question is – how do we ensure employees are healthy?
Employee wellbeing programs range from gym discounts and yearly health check-ups to fully comprehensive, preventative healthcare strategies that monitor risks and trends across your workforce on a regular basis.
Investing in a comprehensive corporate occupational health strategy program from a reputable partner is the best way to ensure you have a healthy, robust workforce. Designed specifically for your employees’ unique health needs, it will help you identify risks early, make better decisions and reduce the long-term costs associated with absenteeism, healthcare claims and productivity losses.
If this is something you’re interested in Smart Salem offers comprehensive occupational health packages that utilise advanced technology, data analytics, and expert medical views to provide actionable insights and aid you to make data-driven decisions. We can work on-site or remotely and can tailor our approach to your needs. From health assessments to medical screening and ongoing health monitoring, your employees will thank you and so will your business.
2 Report by the Institute for Public Policy Research
As more leaders recognise that happy, healthy employees do a better job, the importance of taking a holistic approach to employee wellbeing is certainly growing and in particular, we are seeing more of a focus on maintaining the mental and physical health of the workforce.
Based on numerous studies we know that healthier employees cost less because they make less insurance claims and take less sick days, but new research is showing that employee wellbeing is also closely linked - and perhaps even crucial to - overall organisational performance.
This was highlighted by a recent study that found employee sickness cost the UK a whopping £103bn in 2023, an increase of £30bn since 20182 which was almost entirely caused by lower productivity rather than sick days.
Other studies have found similar associations. The London School of Economics analysed meta-data from almost two million employees across 49 industries in 73 countries and found a clear link between higher employee wellbeing, higher productivity and overall firm performance.
Employees with higher wellbeing are also more engaged - almost twice as likely to be engaged and enjoy their work in fact - and it's well documented that engagement is a key metric for performance, reducing turnover, improving morale and delivering higher returns to shareholders.
All of this suggests that not only does ensuring your employees are happy and healthy reduce the obvious costs - lowering insurance premiums, reducing compensation claims, and minimising absenteeism and turnover - it also increases productivity significantly and consequently your bottom line.
So, if healthier, more resilient teams are the hallmark of high performing companies, the real question is – how do we ensure employees are healthy?
Employee wellbeing programs range from gym discounts and yearly health check-ups to fully comprehensive, preventative healthcare strategies that monitor risks and trends across your workforce on a regular basis.
Investing in a comprehensive corporate occupational health strategy program from a reputable partner is the best way to ensure you have a healthy, robust workforce. Designed specifically for your employees’ unique health needs, it will help you identify risks early, make better decisions and reduce the long-term costs associated with absenteeism, healthcare claims and productivity losses.
If this is something you’re interested in Smart Salem offers comprehensive occupational health packages that utilise advanced technology, data analytics, and expert medical views to provide actionable insights and aid you to make data-driven decisions. We can work on-site or remotely and can tailor our approach to your needs. From health assessments to medical screening and ongoing health monitoring, your employees will thank you and so will your business.
2 Report by the Institute for Public Policy Research
