A new initiative has been launched to support small businesses in improving work health to create a healthy economy.
Illness among working age people costs the UK economy £100 billion a year. But workplace health and wellbeing programmes such as exercise, healthy eating and stop smoking support can make a real difference. Successful programmes such as these have been found to return £2 to £10 for every £1 spent, benefiting staff wellbeing and economic productivity.
Most big employers already have some plans in place that help to improve and protect their staff’s health but many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) do not currently benefit from such programmes.
Public Health England and Healthy Working Futures, a workplace health provider, has set out advice for SMEs, which account for 60% of private sector employment. It gives SMEs a series of questions on health and wellbeing including smoking, fitness and sleep, which staff can answer anonymously, enabling them to assess the specific needs of their workforce and create tailored steps to improve their staff’s health and wellbeing.
To find out more click here; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/improving-work-health-for-a-healthy-economy
