New report from Work Foundation finds employers and doctors deal with illnesses such as back pain and depression as if they were separate ailments
The failure to make connections between physical and mental health means that thousands of workers are succumbing to unnecessarily drawn out bouts of illness.
A new report from the Work Foundation called Body and Soul claims that employers and doctors deal with illnesses such as back pain and depression as if they were separate ailments. But the reality is that for many workers, one condition leads to another. The instance of ‘co-morbidity’ is also high in, for example, diabetes and anxiety. Generally, the instance of depression is much higher in workers with a chronic physical condition.
According to the report’s authors, the answer is to take a more holistic approach to health in the office. Opportunities for honest discussion should be encouraged as many workers may feel a bit vulnerable or embarrassed to admit to having problems with their health.
‘One of the main things that came out of the research was how important work was to people’s sense of well-being,’ says Robin McGee, one of the report’s authors. ‘A good workplace environment without unnecessary stress can really aid recovery.’
PAs can play an important role in fostering a much more health conscious culture. ‘A PA is in an excellent position to be a good, supportive colleague and encourage open conversation about health issues,’ says McGee, adding that 30% of workers were ashamed to talk about their illness.
Many of the respondents said that flexibility around working hours made a huge difference when they were combatting illness. ‘If they can come in late, or work from home when they’re not feeling well, it really boosts their chances of recovery,’ says McGee.
Bosses should take note. Released to coincide with last month’s National Work from Home Day, research from the TUC found that one in five employers refuses to let staff work from home.