Ergonomics News

Long Term Absence causes Low Morale

Added August 10th, 2011

New research shows that long term absence is an issue for over two-thirds of employers and it can have a major impact on their staff.

In a survey conducted to identify both employee and employer concerns about absence issues found that staff sickness frequently causes low morale amongst those left in the office.

The report form Aviva UK Health found that just under a quarter of employees (23%) consider it no fun working for a company where colleagues go on long-term sick leave. One in five (22%) get annoyed and feel overworked if they have to make up for a colleague’s absence in the workplace. For some, these anxieties extend further, with one in ten employees (10%) worrying that the company will go out of business and they’ll lose their job if one of their colleagues goes off sick for a prolonged period of time.

Colleagues’ concerns do not go unnoticed by those that are on sick leave. A fifth of employees feel guilty about letting colleagues down. A staggering 71% reveal they’d be concerned about returning to work from long-term sick leave.

While some worry that they won’t fit in with their colleagues, or they’ll be treated with kid gloves (11%), others question their abilities to still do their job. Nearly one in five (16%) say they’d worry that they won’t be able to cope with their old responsibilities. Moreover, one in ten (11%) worry that their old problem will come back and they’ll go off sick again.

Source: HR Review

One in Four People in the UK work all day without taking a break

Added June 7th, 2010

New research from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) shows that one in four people (25 per cent) in the UK regularly work all day without taking a break and are thereby putting their health at risk.

Physiotherapists are concerned that the poor work habits revealed in the research, such as not taking sufficient breaks, working in the same position for extended periods, going to work when ill or stressed and not taking enough exercise, pose serious risks to health which can also cause huge costs for employers.

The UK wide survey for the CSP shows that over a third (36 per cent) of staff regularly work through their lunch break and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) take no lunch break at all. Half of those who work through their breaks (50 per cent) do so because they have too much work to do, while almost a third (31 per cent) say it is because there are too few staff to cover the workload.

“Physiotherapists are concerned that overworking and not taking breaks is actually costing employers and their staff. Employees pay the price with their health and there is a cost to employers in reduced productivity and performance. Work is good for us and can contribute to physical and mental well-being – but not when overworking means people don’t have the time or energy to look after their own health or when staff are at work but are not fit for work.

“With advice and support from physiotherapists and other occupational health experts, employers can create healthier work environments and benefit not only society but also their profit margin.”

Physiotherapists believe that physical problems such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), are often exacerbated by any psychological stress the person is feeling. CSP’s research found that 41 per cent of staff with physical problems caused by work feel these problems are made worse because they are also experiencing work related stress.