The free NHS Plus ‘Health for Work Adviceline’ (Tel: 0800 0 77 88 44) gives small business employers and managers direct access to occupational health professionals for immediate advice on any individual employee physical or mental health problem.
Work-related mental health conditions such as stress, depression and anxiety, can have a significant impact on small businesses which often have neither the resources nor the experience to deal with these complex and sensitive issues.
It is well known that work improves mental health and wellbeing and most people with a mental health condition would like to keep working. This free NHS service allows employers to step in early, helping staff who are suffering ill health to either stay in their jobs or return to work more quickly after a period of absence.
As well as providing immediate advice, the Adviceline also helps with occupational health monitoring, screening and surveillance, as well as lifestyle and wellbeing issues, absence management and rehabilitation advice. Employers will also be referred to further support if appropriate.
It is estimated that around 13.7 million working days are lost each year due to mental ill health, costing the UK economy nearly £30 billion. For people with a mental ill health condition, reduced productivity accounts for 1.5 times the working time lost as sickness absence. The effects of ‘presenteeism’, where workers feel obliged to come into work although they may be unproductive, are also damaging to business performance and staff morale.
"Good employers will invest in the health and wellbeing of their staff. This makes good business sense as it can improve performance and productivity as well as staff morale. Both small businesses and charities may lack the knowledge, expertise and resources to support their workforce; the opportunity to access a free helpline could meet this need," says Lai-Har Cheung, Employment Practice Manager from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Employers can call the Adviceline on 0800 0 77 88 44 or find out more at www.health4work.nhs.uk
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