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Health, Work and Well-being launched in 2005 and is an initiative led by the government and sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health, HSE, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government. The initiative aims to improve and protect the health and well-being of working age people. Helping people with health conditions (physical and mental) to enter employment and remain in their job roles because it is the best thing for their health. It also helps to reduce time off work by ensuring people can swiftly return to work after periods of sickness and not end up on state benefits.
The 2006 report ‘Is work good for your health and well-being?’ found that work in most circumstances is beneficial to people’s health. Working people, of all ages, are usually found to be healthier. People with health conditions often find gaining employment helps improve their conditions. Most common health conditions can be accommodated in work places with the correct support.
Looking after the health and well-being of your workforce reduces loss of experienced staff and stops the costly need of having to find new staff. Looking after employees increases staff moral, staff performance and creates a good company image.
Health Work and well-being is working in partnership with employers to promote good practice and encourage people to change the way we live and work. They are bringing together various initiatives to achieve success;
Workplace Well-being Tool
The workplace well-being tool is a free online tool designed to help organisations improve the health and well-being of employees. The tool helps to estimate the cost of poor health in organisations and shows what steps can be taken to improve health and well-being. To register and use the free online tool please visit: Workplace Well-being Tool
The Health Work and Well-being challenge fund
The Health Work and Well-being challenge fund is grant scheme of £4 million, available over two years to fund projects that improve employee’s health and well-being at work. Aimed at local partnerships, small and medium sized businesses, and trading in Great Britain. The first round of funding is now closed but applications for this initiative will open again for the second round later this year. This is an excellent way to introduce new initiatives to support your staff resulting in increased retention, better motivation, less absenteeism and absentism – and it could be fully funded!
Fit for Work Service
The Fit for Work Services (FFWS) helps and supports people to stay in their current jobs or return quickly when they have developed a health condition. The service was piloted in 10 areas across the UK and is funded until March 2011, however the FFWS pilots are committed to ensuring they are sustainable longer-term.
Working our way to better mental health
Working our way to better mental health is a government launched framework that has been created to support people who have mental health conditions both in work and those who wish to gain employment. It aims to improve well-being at work for people, support these people in staying in employment or returning to work quickly after sickness absence periods and help deliver better employment results for people who suffer with these conditions.
HWWB Co-ordinators
Health Work and Well-being Co-ordinators are working to reduce work related illnesses and promote good health and well-being at work. They are currently in place in each of the English, Scottish and Wales regions and are focusing on smaller businesses. The HWWB Co-ordinators also administer the Health, Work and Well-being Challenge Fund. For contact details please click here.
What can employers do for the ‘Health and Well-being’ of their employees
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Monitor and provide interventions to manage employee’s ‘health and well-being’ in the workplace.
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Ensure that employees are not made ill or injured at work.
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Promote healthy living and well-being in your workplace.
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Monitor absence policies and practices
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Train your managers and supervisors to be able to deal with sickness absence and returning to work issues.
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Support staff to remain in or encourage them to quickly return to work if they develop health conditions, by being adaptable and consider changing working patterns.
Free Occupational Health and Support For Small Businesses
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that from 1st April all small businesses in England will be able to access free occupational health advice and support.
Investers in People
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