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Initiative set to tackle the rising cost of sick days


Healthy Working Futures, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health, is planning to test a pilot service designed to address challenges relating to absenteeism. The service, to be delivered


across Leicestershire, will look to hit the ground running by addressing immediate absenteeism and supporting an early return to work, while simultaneously assessing and providing practical advice on how to reduce future absenteeism. Leicester-based Healthy Working


Futures, which also has an office in Nottingham, aims to diagnose and tackle the core drivers of sickness absence specific to an SME, through analysing business risk and assessing the health and wellbeing of the workforce. Using a proven approach, it supports one of the business’s absentees back into work more quickly. Sickness absence poses significant costs to businesses.


Alongside this, extra workload and stress is placed upon those employees who aren’t sick, as they cover the work of their missing colleagues. Long spells of sickness absence can be life-changing for individuals. Statistics from the Office for


National Statistics and the Health and Safety Executive indicate 137 million days are lost due to sickness absence every year in the UK, with the cost to businesses an estimated £9bn per annum in sick pay and associated costs. What’s more, four consecutive


weeks of sickness absence presents an increased risk of leaving the labour market, while one-in-five who reach six weeks of sickness absence stay off work sick and eventually leave paid employment. Julie Felstead, Workplace Health


and Wellbeing Specialist at Healthy Working Futures, said: “Our team of trained specialised clinical and non-clinical professionals will support the employer and


137 million days are lost to sickness absence each year


‘Four consecutive weeks of sickness absence presents an increased risk of leaving the labour market’


employee, through a joined up approach, in order to tackle current and future sickness absence management. “SMEs will profit from adopting


this preventative approach by benefiting from reduced sickness absence and staff turnover; consequently increasing productivity and overall profitability.


“Through the pilot, we are hoping


to engage with SMEs that would like our immediate help, and would like support in putting measures in place to reduce the likelihood of future sickness absence. By focusing on the first four weeks of sickness absences it is expected that outcomes for employees and employers would be improved.”


Reserve Forces are an essential part of our national security and defence capability, supporting our Regular Forces.


By employing Reservists, organisations can acquire a portfolio of skills and behaviours such as self­confidence, leadership, teamwork, organisation, resourcefulness, perseverance and problem solving, proven in challenging circumstances; these are essential in every workforce. Military training also covers a wide range of skills such as communications and IT, HGV and LGV driving licences, first aid, engineering, catering, and personnel management.


At this a special event, you will hear about the role of the Army (Regular and Reserve) and relationships with and potential benefits to employers. On a guided tour of the facilities, you will see: the medical and rehabilitation facilities; weapons, kit and equipment (with ‘hands­on’); training facilities, including counter improvised explosive devices (have a go) and an electronic rifle range (have a go).


Mark Lindahl, a Director at Bridgeway Consulting Ltd, attended this event last year; he said “This was a very interesting and eye­opening visit. It is clear that military training develops core skills such as self­confidence, determination, leadership, and loyalty. Employing Reservists and former members of the Regular Forces provides people with these skills and other attributes, including aptitude, decisive application of abilities, handling stress and conflict, and dealing with challenging situations under the utmost pressure. This was also a good networking and business development opportunity”.


The event will start at 8.30 am and will finish at 2.00 pm including a networking lunch. Numbers are limited. To book a place please contact Laura Mills: 0115 924 8616 or em­empspasst@rfca.mod.uk


business network May 2018 15


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