- Repetitive movements, using a computer, poor posture and sitting at an inadequate desk without back and neck support can lead to poor musculoskeletal health and related sickness absences.
- Acute back pain, for example, becomes chronic after 21 days, which can significantly impact an employee’s physical and mental health, and their ability to work.
- Organisations need a wellbeing strategy that enables them to identify the causes of workplace ill health, intervene early and provide specialist support.
In March’s Spring Budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt pledged government support for those forced to leave work due to musculoskeletal issues through a £400 million investment. This is set to include tailored employment support within musculoskeletal services, expanding the individual placement and support scheme, scaling up community musculoskeletal hubs and ensuring digital resources are readily available.
Employers could use the government’s announcement as a catalyst to reviewing and prioritising their support to employees with musculoskeletal issues.
Impact on absence
The rise in home working has impacted the number of employees suffering from musculoskeletal issues. Repetitive movements, using a computer, poor posture and sitting at an inadequate desk without back and neck support can lead to poor musculoskeletal health, resulting in a potential loss of productivity and related sickness absences.
Many organisations are addressing musculoskeletal conditions with risk assessments and basic training, but these are no longer enough, says Suzanne Marshall, head of clinical strategy at GoodShape.
“The organisations that are best able to address musculoskeletal issues are those that have data to understand which employees are impacted and the reasons why, and use data-led insights to implement effective policies to prevent and support,” she says.
It is important for employers to recognise their role in helping to prevent the potential impact of musculoskeletal issues and minimise further risks.
Jo Askew, advanced physiotherapy practitioner at Bupa UK, says: “Employers have a legal responsibility and duty of care to look after the health and safety of their workforce and most undertake ergonomic assessments and provide specialised equipment, but many people still lack the proper equipment or have inadequate workspaces.”
Workplace impact
According to GoodShape’s proprietary data, musculoskeletal conditions were the third highest cause of workplace absence in 2022, accounting for 14.5% of all lost working time. In the rail and bus industries, musculoskeletal issues were the most common cause of absence between January 2019 and June 2022, with employers losing 6.5 million working days at a cost of £946 million.
This demonstrates how addressing employees’ musculoskeletal health should be high on the agenda, says Marshall.
Musculoskeletal conditions saw a lot of focus from employers a few years ago and are now an integral part of how organisations operate, with liability insurance requirements and learning modules having been introduced, says David Williams, head of group risk at Towergate Health and Protection.
“Businesses need to be careful not to assume that box is ticked," he adds. "There will always be scope to review and refine, which is why developments in providers’ propositions is important to keep them fresh, relevant and effective.”
Early intervention
By addressing and treating conditions early, employers have a better chance of preventing musculoskeletal conditions from becoming chronic. For example, acute back pain becomes chronic after 21 days, which can significantly impact an employee’s physical and mental health, and their ability to work.
Pinpointing the causes of musculoskeletal ill health is the first step, because once patterns have been spotted employers can start to provide targeted and effective support, says Marshall.
“If automating manual handling is not possible, employers should ensure that they understand which working practices are causing issues,” she says. “On-site workplace assessments make a significant difference: observe how employees perform their role to identify risks. If data reveals a high risk of musculoskeletal issues in an organisation, partnering with a fast-track physiotherapy provider on-site is a great way to assist with early intervention.”
Employers could also use a health questionnaire where risk factors around musculoskeletal conditions can be flagged. Debra Clark, head of specialist consulting at Towergate Health and Protection, says: “Employers can then reduce the risk prior to it becoming an issue by linking to information on posture, encouraging breaks from sitting and offering online yoga or Pilates classes.”
Workplace support
Structured correctly, an organisation's wellbeing strategy will enable it to identify the causes of workplace ill health, intervene early and provide specialist support.
Employers should ensure there are proactive processes in place, including an in-depth return-to-work form tailored to particular musculoskeletal issues to support an employee back to work safely, and minimise the risk of a worsening or reoccurring problem, says Marshall.
“Employers should signpost employees to occupational health on their very first absence,” she says. “Chronic pain is known to cause psychological symptoms and employees will often need mental health support as well. Explore how a role can be modified and provide specialist equipment, allow for flexible working, or reduce physical activity during recovery.”
The symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions are not always visible, so employers might not know that an employee is having difficulties unless they say so.
“Check in with team members regularly to find out how they’re doing and whether or not they need any help with their musculoskeletal health,” says Askew. “Providing adjustable workstations and ergonomic equipment can make a big difference.”
Support for musculoskeletal conditions is often offered through group income protection insurer’s rehabilitation service, which will include access to healthcare professionals to support absent employees as quickly as possible.
Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) are often offered with group income protection policies, says Williams. “These include personal training and fitness classes for free within an app. This can help employees see EAPs as a proactive daily resource to access and engage with, rather than a reactive service to use when something has gone wrong.”
Prioritising musculoskeletal conditions gives employers a good standpoint from which to reduce absenteeism, improve productivity and create a healthier workforce. Placing importance on early intervention is key to this, as conditions will often worsen with time.
