How can I as an employer reduce the inability to work of my employees?
June 19, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Erika Keck
Dear Doctor,
My name is Babette Dörr and I am the HR manager at a medium-sized company. Over the past few months, I have noticed an increase in the number of my employees being unable to work due to illness. This includes both short-term sick leave as well as longer periods of absence due to illness.
I am concerned about the productivity and motivation of my team. Additionally, the frequent absences are putting additional strain on the remaining colleagues. I have already implemented various measures to promote health in the workplace, such as ergonomic workstations, sports activities, and regular health checks. However, it seems that this is not enough to reduce the amount of sick leave.
I am wondering what further measures I can take to promote the health of my employees and reduce the amount of sick leave. Are there any specific programs or training that I could offer? How can I identify early on if an employee is facing health issues and respond accordingly?
I would greatly appreciate your expertise and advice on this matter in order to improve the situation in our company and promote employee health.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Babette Dörr
Dear Mrs. Dörr,
Thank you for your message and for trusting in my expertise in the field of occupational medicine. It is commendable that you are taking care of the health and well-being of your employees and have already implemented measures for health promotion in the workplace. It is understandable that the increasing absenteeism of your employees leads to productivity losses and additional burden on the team. I would be happy to provide you with some further measures and advice to reduce absenteeism and promote employee health.
First and foremost, it is important to implement a company health management (BGM). This can involve offering targeted health services and programs for your employees, such as stress management courses, nutritional counseling, back exercises, or relaxation techniques. These measures can help strengthen the mental and physical health of your employees and prevent illnesses.
Furthermore, it is important to recognize early signs of health problems in your employees. Regular health checks, employee discussions, and anonymous surveys can help identify potential health issues early on. Additionally, you should ensure an open and trusting work environment where employees can turn to you with health complaints.
You can also offer training and workshops on health and prevention to enhance your employees' awareness of their own health. Topics such as healthy eating, physical activity in the workplace, stress management, and addiction prevention can be addressed.
It is also important for you as a HR manager to set an example and encourage employees to practice health-conscious behaviors. Through your personal commitment and interest in the well-being of your employees, you can have a positive impact on company culture and employee motivation.
Lastly, I recommend regularly evaluating the success of your health promotion measures and adjusting them as needed. This will ensure that the absenteeism of your employees is reduced in the long term and employee health is sustainably promoted.
I hope that my advice will help you improve the situation in your company. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Erika Keck, Occupational Physician
