Strategies to Improve Employee Health, Well-being & Productivity

This report examines the crucial link between employee health and well-being and its direct impact on workplace productivity. It identifies major health problems faced by employees, including musculoskeletal issues, mental health challenges, and regular illnesses, and proposes strategies to overcome these problems. The report emphasizes the importance of a positive organizational culture, highlights the negative impact of health issues on productivity (such as absenteeism and compensation claims), and underscores the role of consultants in addressing these challenges. It concludes that prioritizing employee health and well-being is essential for organizational growth, advocating for approaches like promoting self-care, addressing employee concerns, and providing meaningful work to boost productivity and create a healthier working environment. Desklib provides access to this and many other solved assignments for students.

Running head: EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Name of the Student:
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1EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Executive summary:
Over the past few decades, technological changes and reforms of organization has led to
employees in assuming increased work responsibilities and increase in autonomy than before.
Although this has increased the overall productivity, modern work methods and environment has
also increased levels of stress and time pressures. These developments have led to increasing
level of sickness in Australia. This report further throws light on the approaches to tackle the
arising health issues in the workplace. Employee’s health and productivity of the organisation is
directly connected to each other.

2EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Major health problem in workplace.................................................................................................4
Identified Issue 1: Musculoskeletal problems:................................................................................4
Overcoming the problem:............................................................................................................4
Approach to tackle the issue:.......................................................................................................5
Identified Issue 2- Mental Health Problems:...................................................................................5
Overcoming the problem:............................................................................................................6
Approach to tackle the issue:.......................................................................................................6
Identified Issue 3-Regular Illness:...................................................................................................6
Overcoming the problem:............................................................................................................6
Approaches to tackle the issue:....................................................................................................7
Impact on workplace productivity:..................................................................................................7
Consultants Helping in the Research:..............................................................................................7
Importance of Productivity in the workplace:.................................................................................8
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................9
References:....................................................................................................................................10

3EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Introduction:
Work is vital for all of us to survive at the various levels of life. Job satisfaction increases
the standard of living besides providing meaningful focus to the life of the people (Catwright and
Cooper 2014). However, work-related problems could affect the employee’s health physically,
mentally and emotionally. The report highlights on the major issues that is responsible for
affecting the employee’s mental health. This is caused due to workplace injury, stress, violence,
job dissatisfaction, discrimination and bullying, accidental death and retirement. Retrenchment
or job loss, which was unexpected also affect the health of the employees causing hardship and
distress (VanGordon et al. 2014). Moreover, the report elaborates the relationship between
workplace and health productivity. It is a virtuous circle, as improved working condition will
lead to a better and healthy working environment that will further lead to improve in productivity
of the organisation (Ganster and Rosen 2013).

4EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Figure I: The virtuous circle of productivity and health in the workplace
Source: (Ganster and Rosen 2013)
Major health problem in workplace:
In Australia, the employees take more the average allowed sick leave, which affects the
productivity of the organisation (Friedman and Kern 2014). The reason includes commonplace
illnesses like flu and colds to the chronic musculoskeletal problems. The main reason for long-
term absence can also be the most widespread mental health conditions of thee employees. The
major health problem that an employee faces on a daily basis is:
Identified Issue 1: Musculoskeletal problems:
This is related to the problems caused by any damage, injury or disorder of the tissues or
joints that is generally caused or exacerbated due to the workplace tasks (Cooper and Marshall

5EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
2013). Most of the problem related to musculoskeletal is osteoarthritis, lower and upper limbs
disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries. This can be caused due to
inadequate sleep as the blue light emitted from the laptops, iPods and iPhones can disrupt the
sleeping tendency as the present melatonin level get affected (Neuhaus et al. 2014). Sitting too
much or for a longer period of time besides having negative impact on the brain and reducing
energy also lowers the efficiency of an individual to burn fat.
Overcoming the problem:
 The task assigned and the provided workstation should be suitable and proper for each
worker.
 Regular break should be introduced to lower the risk or chance of repetitive injury. The
employee should be encouraged to go for a short walk during lunchtime. Changing the
environment can boost the employee productivity rate (Karanika-Murray and Weyman
2013).
 If the employee’s job requires lifting heavy items, then it should be ensured that the
employee undergoes proper and adequate training.
Approach to tackle the issue:
The employees should be encourage to digitally detox that is after 8 pm hey should not be
allowed to work through digital appliance as it may affect the health and further causes eye
problems. Moreover, the employee should be allowed flexibility in their work schedules so that
they can allot some time for exercise during the day.

6EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Identified Issue 2- Mental Health Problems:
Mental health related problem is a major issue for the employees leaving the
organisation. Illness related to mental stress has estimated to account for majority of the entire
sick leave absence. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), one in every four workers
has mental health issues like anxiety, depression and very high level of stress. A supportive
working environment should be created for the employees. As majority of the employees with
mental problems wants to work but they are insecure or have low confidence level. In the current
scenario, the employees are having a sedentary lifestyle, which causes mental stress (Riekert,
Ockene and Pbert 2013). Working throughout day and night, making huge money, and taking no
care for their body and health. Due to mental stress of finishing, the target assigned the
employees face further problems like weight gain, obesity, eye problems and many more.
Overcoming the problem:
 The employees stress can be managed by improving resiliency, which is possible if the
employee’s unique strength is valued and the work is providing a meaningful
contribution to the society (Pohling et al. 2016).
 If an employee is sick due to mental health issue, than it is ensured they are regularly
communicated about their performance.
Approach to tackle the issue:
The employee facing mental stress should be allowed a flexible system of work to
recognise their needs and challenges within the organisation. The stressed employees should be
allowed proper recovery time to recharge their energy level. Proper feedback should be given to
the employees. Furthermore, if an employee is not mentally healthy then they should be treated
with empathy, as they are mentally stressed and surviving one day at a time.

7EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Identified Issue 3-Regular Illness:
The health of the organisation is dependent on the health of its worker. Flu and cold
viruses can rapidly spread in a workplace. The overall productivity of the firm is affected if the
employee is encouraged to take leave due to everyday illness (Zander et al. 2015). Food
poisoning is also major factor for the employee’s illness due to the present germs and toxins in
the pantry and communal fridge of the organisation.
Overcoming the problem:
 Good hygiene system should be encouraged in the organisation, which includes boxes of
tissues, hand sanitisers and tolerant sickness policy.
 Employees should be encouraged to have vegetable enriched diet to reduce the risk of
developing cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers (Friedman and Kern, 2014).
Approaches to tackle the issue:
The employees can be offered flu vaccines so that they can be immunised against the flu,
which is the best insurance provided against the spreading of virus. The employees should be
provided with facilities like preparing healthy meals like smoothies, chopped salad or reheating
the leftovers in the work place. Moreover, to reduce the risk of regular illness, the office catering
should also be properly selected and reviewed to ensure healthy options.
Impact on workplace productivity:
An employee suffering from mental and physical health problems have more probability
of absenteeism and when present at work their productivity level is very low. The employees are
slow in committing to their works and it is more likely that the employees would pursue
compensation claims (Ganster and Rosen 2013). The indirect costs are also affected in a negative

8EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
manner, with managers spending maximum time in dealing with the employee’s complex health
related issues besides the replacement costs of potential staffs.
Employees when feel unsupported or treated unfairly then they tend to create negative
feelings for their working environment (Cooper and Marshall 2013). The unstable employees
tend to act uncooperatively with his colleagues and the employer.
Consultants Helped in the Research:
The consultants helping in the research work were the Operations Manager of the
organisation by providing the details of the employees absenteeism due to health issues and the
Payroll officer was helpful in providing the annual report, which stated the injury incidences
caused in the workplace was more likely similar to the previous year (Zander et al. 2015). The
most common injury was strain and back injury.
Importance of Productivity in the workplace:
Any successful business key element is the productivity level of the employees in the
workplace. Almost all the successful organisation has healthy and happy employees, which leads
to the rise in productivity at workplace (Boxall and Macky 2014). Generally, there is a consensus
that productivity and performance of the employees facing poor health has been diminished
Productivity in the organisation leads to the good customer interaction and services through
which customers are satisfied and their loyalty can be gained. When a worker is highly
productive it helps in achieving the business goals. Productivity helps in boosting moral
motivating the workplace culture and a better working environment (Neuhaus et al. 2014).

9EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Productivity in the workplace is very vital for future growth. Employees should be kept
motivated by providing them with bonuses, pay raises and medical insurance.

10EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Conclusion:
Thus from the report, it can be concluded that employees health and wellbeing is crucial
for the organisational growth as it directly affects the workplace productivity. They are two sides
of a same coin as if employee health is affected the productivity of the business is impacted. A
workplace having lower standard of organisational culture often results in degrading the health
and well-beings of the workers. Poor employee’s health could translate into absence of
employee’s engagement and loss in productivity, with various indirect and direct costs getting
affected due to the complex health related issues. The productivity can be boosted through the
approaches like providing self-care of the employees. Employees queries and pleas should
always been heard and a constructive feedback should be offered. Moreover, a clear parameter of
success should be established and the employees should be offered a meaningful and challenging
work.

11EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELL BEING
References:
Boxall, P. and Macky, K., 2014. High-involvement work processes, work intensification and
employee well-being. Work, Employment and Society, 28(6), pp.963-984.
Cartwright, S. and Cooper, C.L., 2014. Towards organizational health: Stress, positive
organizational behavior, and employee well-being. In Bridging occupational, organizational and
public health (pp. 29-42). Springer Netherlands..
Cooper, C.L. and Marshall, J., 2013. Occupational sources of stress: A review of the literature
relating to coronary heart disease and mental ill health. In From Stress to Wellbeing Volume
1 (pp. 3-23). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Friedman, H.S. and Kern, M.L., 2014. Personality, well-being, and health. Annual review of
psychology, 65.
Ganster, D.C. and Rosen, C.C., 2013. Work stress and employee health: A multidisciplinary
review. Journal of Management, 39(5), pp.1085-1122.
Goetzel, R.Z., Henke, R.M., Tabrizi, M., Pelletier, K.R., Loeppke, R., Ballard, D.W.,
Grossmeier, J., Anderson, D.R., Yach, D., Kelly, R.K. and Serxner, S., 2014. Do workplace
health promotion (wellness) programs work?. Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 56(9), pp.927-934
Karanika-Murray, M. and Weyman, A.K., 2013. Optimising workplace interventions for health
and well-being: a commentary on the limitations of the public health perspective within the