A healthy working environment is of crucial importance to employers as they attempt to combat workplace maladies such as stress, a new survey suggests.
The research conducted by Investors in People (IIP) found that 80% of employers thought that creating a healthy workplace was a high priority for the next 12 months.
The data also suggests that stress in the workplace is a major concern for employers, with 32% citing it as an issue they feel important to address.
However, respondents displayed great confidence in their own workplaces with 95% describing them as healthy or fairly healthy.
In the eyes of employers unhealthy workplaces are companies where there is a high rate of staff turnover and where low morale and absenteeism is rife.
Ruth Spellman, chief executive of IIP, said: “Although health can be a difficult concept to quantify, it is encouraging to see that the vast majority of employers realise and understand the benefits of a healthy organisation.
“Benefits which include enhanced employee morale, reduced absenteeism and ultimately improved productivity. “As our survey identifies, managers clearly realise that healthy working is much more than simply a case of complying with health and safety legislation.
“However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach and employers need to take a holistic view of the organisation’s needs and identify where improvements can be made.
“This will not only help them to safeguard the mental and physical health of their people, but also help protect the lifeblood of their organisation.”
