Fidgety employees could be costing UK
employers on average £3,279 per person per year through lost productivity and
sickness absence. Failing to provide comfortable, suitable workspaces for
employees can lead to ailments such as headaches, tense shoulders, neck ache,
eye problems as well as sore wrists and arms.
Left unattended these problems could
lead to mass workplace absence, not something any business owner wants to have
to deal with. Only 45% of respondents from a recent survey had conducted a
workstation risk assessment which is designed to identify and resolve issues which
may lead to health problems.
Concerned that these figures could
rise, The HR Dept is reminding all employers to carry out an assessment
appropriate to their needs. A large proportion of UK workers spend the majority
of their working day in front of a computer. All computer users (display screen
users) should complete a self-assessment (‘Display Screen
Equipment’) questionnaire. A ‘user’ is described as someone who uses a computer
for ‘continuous spells of an hour or more at a time’. The HR Dept is advising
employers to encourage their staff to take 10 minutes every hour away from
their screen to fulfil other duties at work.
Simple steps can be taken to combat
this increasing issue. Simon Morgan, Director of The HR Dept (South East London
and North Kent) comments “Employers who take a proactive approach and
provide support to their employees through workstation assessments are more
likely to have a motivated, efficient and productive workforce. Rather than see
health and safety as another cost to their bottom line, employers will see
their sickness absence decrease where risks are identified and rectified.”
Workstation risk assessments are part
of health and safety law which is why The HR Dept’s Health and Safety Service
can take care of these kinds of assessments and everything in between.
The HR Dept specialises in advising
small and medium sized businesses on all employment issues.
