It’s Monday morning, you’ve just arrived at the office and you’re all geared up to face a mountain of emails, looming deadlines and a busy schedule of back-to-back meetings when an employee calls in sick. It’s not the ideal start to a productive working week! Aside from the obvious concerns for the individual’s health, it’s understandable you may also have concerns for the impact their absence will have on the business. And rightly so – fewer staff means a less productive workplace. It can also lower morale amongst staff who may have to take on the extra workload, which in turn has the potential to lead to overwork, stress, and further sickness absence.

A few sick days here and there might not seem like a big deal for an individual employee, but combined they can have a huge impact on any business, and on the UK economy as a whole. In fact, it is estimated that sickness absence costs us £29 billion per year, according to recent research by the CIPD.

And it’s not just sickness absence that can be a major problem for businesses. Presenteeism, or the pressure some employees feel to remain at work whilst sick, is also an issue as it allows infections to spread throughout the workplace which ultimately impacts on productivity.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK are musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and back pain, minor illnesses such as the common cold, and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and stress. Thankfully, YourGP offers a range of health screening services and effective preventative measures that can significantly improve your staff’s wellbeing and reduce the amount of money that sickness is costing your company.

Medical assessments, for example, can have a positive impact. We offer a range of one-to-one, fully confidential medical MOTs and annual check-ups, including an executive health medical – YourGP’s most popular option. We can also provide fitness for work assessments, which can determine suitability for employment and identify any reasonable adjustments that may need to be considered after a period of absence.

Employees who receive the right support are less likely to get sick, under-perform or take time off work, so it really does pay to invest in the health and wellbeing of your team. If you’d like to find out more about YourGP’s occupational health offerings, call 0131 202 6696 or email occhealth@your.gp and we’ll be happy to help you work towards a healthier and more productive workplace.