September 17, 2007—A new report by the Work Foundation has found controversial evidence to suggest that workers with common health problems may actually benefit from remaining at work. In Fit for Work, the authors argue that conditions such as back pain and arthritis can in fact be helped by employees returning to work early, or not having time off at all.
In the past, employers have been criticized for assuming that workers need to be 100% recovered before they go back to work.
Senior researcher, Michelle Mahdon, said, “Working may cause or aggravate symptoms, but evidence is amassing that with the right support arrangements, work can also be part of the recovery by contributing to a person’s self-esteem and sense of being productive.”
Managers are in the front line of staff absence and are in a good position to spot the early warning signs of a problem and to help rehabilitate employees after a period away from work. Despite the current focus on stress, managers need to be aware that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can be even more of a problem for their staff and for the whole organization.
Back pain, is one of 200 MSDs affecting the spine, joints and tendons. It is the biggest cause of work-related sickness in the UK, often caused by bad posture at a workstation.
The Work Foundation is a not for profit organization that campaigns for good work. The full report is available from the Work Foundation, and can be downloaded free of charge.
