Men’s Health in the Workplace isn’t just a moral issue, it’s a commercially sound issue too.
- One in five men die before they reach 65, so only four out of every five make it past the traditional retirement age
- 75% of premature deaths from heart disease are male
- three in four suicides are committed by men.
A healthy workforce tends to be happier and more productive. Many health issues, mental and physical, are preventable especially by encouraging early identification.
A proactive approach to men’s health in the workplace could help increase the lifespan of your male workers. So, what practical steps can you as an employer take?
Raise Awareness
Coronary heart disease is the biggest single cause of death in the UK. A lack of exercise, balanced diet, healthy weight, and stress are all contributors to poor heart health. How can your workplace help staff, make and female, in this respect?
- Everyone over 40 is entitled to a free NHS health check every five years. You could promote this initiative to your employees and encourage them to attend.
- Men over 65 are entitled to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm screen which assesses the risk of the aorta bursting. This is six times more likely to happen in men than women. Promote this free screening.
- The second biggest killer of both men and women is cancer. The NHS frequently runs Be Clear on Cancer campaigns , designed to highlight the most common symptoms There is plenty of literature available that you could share with your workers.
- Evidence suggests that men are more worried about wasting a GP’s time than women, so encouragement to make that visit is essential. You could offer to give them paid time off to attend this assessment if you want to positively support this initiative?
Mental health
Mental health issues that go unchecked can lead to suicide. Suicide is the main cause of death in men under the age of 35. At work, poor mental health can lead to reduced concentration, interpersonal conflicts, increased accidents, and lowered productivity. Help dealing with stress can positively impact men’s health in the workplace.
Developing the awareness of your workforce about stress-reducing activities is a great first step but promoting an open culture where staff feel comfortable talking about any issues they are facing is a real game changer. Encouraging people to leave work on time, to take regular breaks, to use up their holiday allowance are all practical steps that you can take.
Encouraging workers to stop smoking
Most people will know the message that one of the best things anyone can do to reduce their risk of cancer is not to smoke. Encouraging workers to stop smoking is something you, as an employer, can get involved in. There’s plenty of literature promoting the free help available, but practical support is even more important. Keeping a check on workplace stress too will help, reducing the situations in which a cigarette may be craved, being clear about your policy on the use of e-cigarettes, maybe encouraging a group of smokers to encourage and support each other as they try to give up?
Men’s health campaigns
Campaigns like Movember are a great excuse to bring men’s health into the spotlight.
Men’s Health Awareness Week 15 -20 June 2020 is an opportunity to focus on men’s health in the workplace
If you would like advice on how to implement health initiatives in the workplace call us on 01706 565332 or contact us
Metis HR is a professional HR Consultancy based in the North West of England supporting clients across the country. We specialise in providing outsourced HR services to small and medium-sized businesses. Call us now on 01706 565332 to discuss how we may help you.
