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BUPA launches project to enhance health at work
18 February 2008
BUPA, the leading health and care company, today announced the launch of a major project to explore how policy and practice can be improved to enable more employers to actively support the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
The 18 month project will look at the benefits of workplace health services to individuals, companies, the UK economy and health system.
BUPA is partnering with The Oxford Health Alliance, RAND Europe and The Work Foundation on the project, which will initially focus on the changing nature of work and its impact on the health of the working population. Key issues include trends in office-based work, with nearly 700,000 people now working "mainly at home", almost double that of 25 years ago, as well as the changing demography of the workforce as people retire later and more workers combine work with caring for children or elderly relatives.
Tackling sickness absence and its impact on productivity will also be central themes. Workplace health services will come under the spotlight to identify the initiatives – and combinations of initiatives – that are most effective at helping to keep people healthy and in work.
BUPA's project comes at a time when the Government is encouraging UK businesses to help their employees lead healthier lives. Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, will shortly announce the findings of a report on the health of the working population. Against this backdrop, BUPA's work is timed to contribute to the debate about how best to support employers to deliver on this agenda.
Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, BUPA's Group Medical Director, said: "The workplace has a key role to play in improving the nation's health, not only by getting people back to work after sickness, but also by promoting positive health and wellbeing."
"Early insights from our work suggest that people's lifestyle choices are changing and having a greater impact on their health than ever before. We want to understand these changes to make sure we're planning for the health needs of tomorrow's working population, not just today's."
"We look after the health of employees working in eight out of 10 FTSE 100 companies and from our experience it is clear that better workplace health offers a 'win-win' all round. Employees benefit from better support for their health. Employers benefit from less absence and improved productivity. And society benefits from improved public health."
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