The Cost Of Workplace Health

How much do employers spend on health and wellness?

It just so happens that Gaz and I are starting to branch out into public speaking, seminars and corporate training.

It’s been a long time coming, but we are now confident that we have the knowledge and skills to really make a difference to people that we interact with… more of that to come.

Whilst doing a little market research, I spoke to a really helpful lady who told me that, and I paraphrase…

On average, companies only budget around £100 per person, per year for workplace health and wellbeing; however, this could differ if they class it as staff training.

I’m now nursing a broken jaw after how hard it hit the floor.

I couldn’t believe it. Especially as this information came from a reliable source.

Companies around the world boast about how they look after their staff, yet, on average, they’re paying less than £9 per person, per month on health and wellbeing.

What do they get, a fruit salad every month?

It’s time for change!

Bosses, chiefs, managers and supervisors, I lay down the gauntlet.

It’s up to you, as leaders, to create a healthier society by improving your people today.

And I mean really improving their lives.

Not sending them on a day’s course where they sit and watch someone talk about how they shouldn’t run in the corridors, but really improving them as people.

If we teach them how to develop themselves (keep calm, stay energised, control their emotions, build relationships, organise their time, know how to learn, deal with overwhelm, etc.) then their current skills and natural growth as human beings will amplify.

This benefits both society and your business.

The benefits of healthy employees

In 2017-18, 1.4 million workers reported new or existing work-related illnesses in the UK (HSE UK).

Of this 1.4 million, 79% suffered with stress, depression, anxiety or musculoskeletal disorders, all conditions that can be prevented with the right education and tactics.

And these are just work-related issues.

Overall ill-health and ‘presenteeism’ reportedly costs UK businesses £77.5 billion annually (Britain’s Healthiest Workplace survey – developed by VitalityHealth in partnership with the University of Cambridge, RAND Europe and Mercer).

It’s clear that looking after staff saves businesses (and the economy) money but it also improves productivity and therefore profitability.

For more on this, I recommend you read these two articles…

The Importance Of Rest In The Workplace

The Importance Of Rest And Relaxation