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Joyce Morse

Joyce Morse is an author who writes on a variety of topics, including finance and running a small business.

Joyce Morse has written 26 articles for SB Informer.
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Are Your Employees Truly Healthy?

Joyce Morse

August 28, 2015


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Employers have to worry about their employees' health, especially in a small business.

If a person is out for a few weeks or even longer with a health issue, it can be costly for the employer. Having healthy employees is important for both the employee and employer.

You can't always look at your staff and assume they are healthy just because they are at work and doing their jobs.

As the employer, you need to be aware of health issues that employees face and what you can do about them.

 

Chronic Problems

Many health issues develop over time in the workplace.

For instance, back pain can happen after years of incorrect lifting. While the back was able to do the job, it placed a strain on it that caused it to deteriorate over time. 

This can lead to disc problems, muscle aches or other back issues that can inhibit an employee's ability to do their job.

Many back problems can be prevented by using correct lifting or procedures and limiting the amount that employees must lift alone.

Another issue caused from repetitive work is carpal tunnel syndrome.

As the following article looks at, you may not think of employees in an office facing work-related health issues, but you understand how it can happen when you know the facts about carpal tunnel syndrome.

Allowing employees to take breaks and ensuring ergonomic seating at tables and desks can reduce the risk of this health issue.

Neck aches and pains and even headaches can also be caused by improper body alignment when working or by sitting in the same position for too long.

It is important to ensure that staff members are taking frequent breaks and changing positions to prevent strained muscles and fatigue that can lead to serious injury.

 

Stress

Another major health problem at some jobs is stress.

While all jobs have some level of stress, those positions that have constant stress can cause employees to develop health problems.

An example of this scenario is an employee who works in collections and talks to customers who won't or can't pay their bills. Another instance of a stress-causing job is one that has constant deadlines that are difficult to meet.

Stress can have many long-term physical effects, such as ulcers, strokes, and high blood pressure.

While you may not be able to eliminate all stress in the workplace - and some stress can be motivating - you do want to help employees find ways to deal with it constructively.

You may plan an afternoon once a month and plan a fun event.

Something as simple as ordering in pizza for a department meeting can improve the morale of the company.

You can also consider paying for gym memberships to encourage employees to be healthier or reducing their health insurance premiums if they meet certain criteria.

Having healthy employees is good business for the employer as well as the staff.

Everyone is more productive and happier, which impacts the bottom line with increased productivity and decreased turnover.

It just makes good small business sense to care about your employees' health.


                   



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