Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

OH employment lawOH service deliveryReturn to work and rehabilitationSickness absence managementWellbeing and health promotion

Occupational health demonstrates employers are ‘socially responsible’

by Ashleigh Webber 24 Mar 2022
by Ashleigh Webber 24 Mar 2022 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Providing access to occupational health can help employers show they are socially responsible and have a healthy workplace culture, according to a report that demonstrates the value of occupational health.

A new value proposition published by the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), collates the “best available” evidence promoting occupational health services, so that organisations can build a business case for its investment.

It says occupational health services enhance employee health, workforce productivity, and business and economic performance, as well as add value through reduced costs associated with the prevention of ill health and “intangible” productivity benefits.

It says there has never been a greater need to consider the value of occupational health, with organisations facing risks including ageing workforces, the emergence of non-standard and precarious working models, widespread remote working, the prevalence of occupational diseases, and public health risks such as Covid-19.

Yet, the proportion of the UK workforce that can access OH services is unknown, often owing to “varying definitions of occupational health services” and small sample sizes in studies that have sought to quantify OH access, the Occupational health: the value proposition report suggests.

Value of occupational health

Prof Dame Carol Black: ‘Occupational health must have strategic leadership role’

Getting the most out of your occupational health provider

It says organisations should consider the business case for OH, which should reflect three key factors: legal (to comply with health and safety laws and regulations), moral (because it is the “right” thing to do), and financial (to reduce the cost of sickness absence or to add value).

“Occupational health professionals help employers deliver a healthy workplace culture and properly organised and healthy work,” the report says. “This, along with managing employee health, contributes to the organisation’s success.

“Providing access to occupational health also helps employers to demonstrate that they are caring and socially responsible; this can help to protect and enhance corporate image with customers, employees, investors, regulators and shareholders.

“The evidence reveals that highly effective companies commit to a culture of health; good workplaces, employee engagement, wellbeing and productivity being interdependent of one another.”

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Lord Blunkett, a patron of SOM, said: “Employers who invest in employee health and wellbeing stand to reap many benefits such as from reduced sickness absence, increased productivity and recruitment and retention.

“However, not all workers have access to occupational health services and people with disabilities and long-term health conditions continue to be disadvantaged regarding gaining and maintaining employment. As this report proposes, occupational health services enhance employee health, workforce productivity, business performance and the economy.”

Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is a former editor of OHW+ and former HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support.

previous post
Sainsbury’s discriminated against worker with brain injury, finds tribunal
next post
Chief executive of P&O Ferries asked by MP: ‘Are you just a shameless criminal?’

You may also like

Why employers must do more to support all...

24 Apr 2025

Keep Britain Working: government told it must embrace...

21 Mar 2025

Keep Britain Working review urging employers to ‘tell...

21 Mar 2025

Better access to OH could be key to...

31 Jan 2025

Keep Britain Working review ‘opportunity to reset’ workforce...

27 Jan 2025

Keep Britain Working review gets under way, with...

24 Jan 2025

Eight in 10 employers agree they have important...

24 Jan 2025

Blue Monday is an opportunity to review workplace...

20 Jan 2025

Why occupational health may find itself in the...

6 Jan 2025

Workplace health support: employees face ‘line management lottery’...

20 Dec 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today