Library personnel's health and productivity: 2011 strategy

Library Personnel’s Health & Library Personnel s Health & Productivity: 2011 Strategy

Nimfa T. Maniago

I th d f i t t i Is there a need of an investment in active programs of health promotion in the workplace?

The link between work and health is ll t bli h dwell-established.

Studies provide empirical evidence that work can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing of gemployees.

Some Relevant Findingsg

Positive impact of work on healthp• A systematic review of more than 400 pieces of

scientific evidence concludes that being in work is good for your physical and mental health, boosting self esteem and quality of life (Waddell & Burton, 2006)2006).

• Studies have also demonstrated that unemployment, job loss and inactivity are bad for both physical job loss and inactivity are bad for both physical and psychological wellbeing (Armstrong, 2006; Layard, 2006).


Negative impact of work on healthg p• In 2007, 299,000 non-fatal reportable workplace

injuries occurred (The Health and Safety Executive, 2008).

• In 2004 an estimated 2.2 million people suffered f ill h l h hi h h b li d d from ill-health which they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work,85 with musculoskeletal disorders the most common followed musculoskeletal disorders the most common followed by stress, depression and anxiety (Health and Safety Executive, 2008).


Link between the way in which work is organized and Link between the way in which work is organized and health

• Jobs that require poor quality work are associated Jobs that require poor quality work are associated with low levels of well-being and a higher incidence of physical or mental illness (Layard, 2004).p y ( y )

• Employees will experience worse health if their employment is insecure, their work is monotonous and repetitive and they have little or no autonomy, control and task discretion (Marmot, 2004).


Link between the way in which work is organized and Link between the way in which work is organized and health

• Unskilled workers are more than four times more Unskilled workers are more than four times more likely to experience accidents, both in and out of the working environment, than managers and g gprofessionals (Wanless, 2003).

• Workers with low levels of control over their work experience more stress than senior managers (Steptoe, Kunz-Ebrecht, Owen, et al.,2003).

Features of a “Good Work”

• Employment security.p y y• Work that is not characterized by monotony and

repetition.• Work that offers employees autonomy, control, and

task discretion.• A balance between the efforts workers make and

the rewards that they receive. W k h ff l h kill h d • Work that offers employees the skills they need to cope with periods of intense pressure.

• Strong workplace relationships• Strong workplace relationships.

Workplace Health Interventionp

1. Absence Management1. Absence Management

Absence Management interventions help Absence Management interventions help companies to monitor sickness absence, identify absence trends, and health and safety risks across absence trends, and health and safety risks across the organization.


2. Case Management2. Case Management

Case management interventions help employers Case management interventions help employers manage the process through which an employee returns to work after sickness absence. returns to work after sickness absence.


3. Employee Assistance Programs3. Employee Assistance Programs

Employee assistance programs gives employees Employee assistance programs gives employees access to confidential advice and support over the telephone, often with referral to face-to-face telephone, often with referral to face to face counseling if required.


4. Employee Health Surveys4. Employee Health Surveys

Employee surveys profile the health of an Employee surveys profile the health of an organization's workforce.


5. Health Assessments5. Health Assessments

Health assessments help detect health problems in Health assessments help detect health problems in good time for employees to take corrective action or for them to be treated with a greater chance of or for them to be treated with a greater chance of success.


6. Health Promotion6. Health Promotion

Health promotion interventions offer employees Health promotion interventions offer employees health education and advice on a range of issues such as healthy eating, smoking cessation, posture, such as healthy eating, smoking cessation, posture, sleep and stress prevention.


7. Ill-health Retirement Reviews7. Ill health Retirement Reviews

Businesses need to ensure that ill health retirement Businesses need to ensure that ill-health retirement pensions are given to appropriate cases, while protecting a vulnerable fund from inappropriate protecting a vulnerable fund from inappropriate claims.


8. Income Protection8. Income Protection

Income protection insurance provides employers with Income protection insurance provides employers with the ability to insure a benefit of a percentage of salary for employees who are unable to work for salary for employees who are unable to work for more than six months (typically) due to sickness or injury – payments continue until the earliest of return to work, retirement, or death.


9. On-site Health Interventions9. On site Health Interventions

On site health interventions allow employees to visit On-site health interventions allow employees to visit a physician, nurse, or dentist at their place of work.


10. Private Medical Insurance10. Private Medical Insurance

Private Medical Insurance (PMI) can come with Private Medical Insurance (PMI) can come with various levels of cover. It allows employees to receive treatment fast and at a time of their receive treatment fast and at a time of their choosing.


11. Stress Management Programs11. Stress Management Programs

These programs offer training sessions for managers These programs offer training sessions for managers and individuals to help them recognize stress, and show them how to prevent or deal with it, so that it show them how to prevent or deal with it, so that it does not affect business performance.

Benefits of Workforce Health Promotion

To the Organization To the Employeea well-managed health and safety program

a safe and healthy work environment

a positive and caring image enhanced self-esteem

improved staff morale reduced stress

reduced staff turnover improved morale

reduced absenteeism increased job satisfaction

increased productivity increased skills for health protection p y p

reduced health care/insurance costs improved health

reduced risk of fines and litigation improved sense of well-being reduced risk of fines and litigation improved sense of well being

HEALTH AT WORKHEALTH AT WORK

Health Promotion Strategy for Librarians

Contents of your strategy

1. Introduction2. Mission Statement3. Aim of the Strategy4. Objectives of the Strategyj gy5. How the Strategy will be implemented6. Monitoring and Evaluationg7. Resources8. Action Plan

1. Introduction

Outline the background to health promotion in your organization.organization.

• When did work begin?• In general how has the work developed?• In general how has the work developed?• What have you learned for the future?

2. Mission Statement

Your mission statement should:• refer to the core components of a healthy workplace

i.e. – the workforce, the environment, the structure of the organization.

'• state the organization's commitment to the health and welfare of their employees.

3. Aim of the Strategy

The aim of your strategy is your ultimate, long term The aim of your strategy is your ultimate, long term goal.Examples:Examples:• to improve the health of employees in your

organization.organization.• to reduce staff turnover.• to increase morale and motivation• to increase morale and motivation.

4. Objectives of the Strategy

Your objectives should include the following:j g• provision of information to employees on a regular basis:

“To raise awareness of health issues through interactive gevents twice a year.”

• list of policies giving an implementation and review date.“To repeat the needs assessment every three years and i t ti i t th H lth St t ”incorporate any necessary action into the Health Strategy.”“To continue to offer a rolling program of lifestyle checks to new staff.”new staff.

5. How the Strategy will be Implemented

Give details of how the strategy will be Give details of how the strategy will be implemented:

• who will be responsible for the who will be responsible for the implementation?

• who will take the lead role? who will take the lead role?• what is the membership of your health working group?working group?

• when will the group meet?

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

Give details of how you will monitor and review the Give details of how you will monitor and review the strategy. For example:For example:

• record attendance at events• record uptake of materials• record uptake of materials• monitor absenteeism and staff turnover 3 l d • 3 yearly needs assessment

7. Resources

Detail the resources you will require and what is Detail the resources you will require and what is available.

Outline what resources are available in your organization – e.g. budgets, staff time etc.organization e.g. budgets, staff time etc.

8. Action Plan

Your action plan should ideally be in grid form Your action plan should ideally be in grid form under the following headings:

(1) Activity(2) Actions(2) Actions(3) Person responsible(4) C l d b (d )(4) Completed by (date)

Sample Action PlanACTIVITY ACTION PERSON

RESPONSIBLEDATE

Provide health information to all staff on a quarterly basis

Order and distribute the

following

- no smoking day

Helen/Joe June 2011

Sept 2011

Dec 2011quarterly basis. g y

- sun care

- talking about stress

alcohol facts

April 2012

- alcohol facts

- dental/oral health

- guide to preventing

cancer

- other campaigns as

appropriatepp p

Parting Thoughtsg g

“Health equals wealth when you’re talkingHealth equals wealth when you re talking about corporate wellness.”

Ri h d B k- Richard Barrack

Parting Thoughtsg g

“A healthy employee means a healthyA healthy employee means a healthy bottom line.”

Mi h l P- Michael Port

Thank you for listening

Education

Library personnel's health and productivity: 2011 strategy