Health Minister Calls For New Focus On Work-Health
Balance


Health Minister Calls For New Focus On Work-Health Balance


Alan JohnsonHealth Secretary Alan Johnson today called for all employers to do more to promote the health and well-being of their staff.

Speaking at the British Heart Foundation's Well at Work Conference in London, Alan Johnson said;

"Ten years ago, we started the debate on work-life balance. Increased maternity leave, the introduction of paternity leave, time off for adoptive parents and the right to request flexible working have led to a quiet revolution, as more employers recognise that supporting a healthy work-life balance is essential to recruiting and retaining talented staff. The next stage is to incorporate work life balance with work health balance."

In his speech, the Health Secretary set out some key steps that employers and government must take:

* First, employers taking steps to promote health and well-being in the workplace

* Secondly, government must work with employers to improve how we identify potential health risks - in particular around stress and mental health - and address these risks

*Thirdly, government must do more to help those who able to work, but have been prevented from doing so by health reasons to get back into the workplace.

Interestingly BT is quoted: BT's mental wellbeing strategy has not only reduced mental health related sickness absence by 30 per cent - British Gas also has a return to work rate of 75 per cent for people absent for more than six months because of a mental health issue.

You can read alan Johnsons full speach here

Source: GNN


 
 
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