Scottish Chambers of Commerce & Healthy Working Lives Partnership

As part of the NHS, the Healthy Working Lives Adviceline offers employers free, confidential and expert advice on health and wellbeing in the workplace.

 

In particular, the Adviceline is keen to support small businesses in dealing with employees’ health issues.  This includes, for example, providing advice on the increasing problems associated with work related stress, such as, anxiety and depression which can lead to costly sickness absence.  

 

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce is actively promoting the Adviceline to encourage small businesses, to make use of and benefit from the expertise it offers. 

 

Stuart Thompson, business development manager at The Scottish Chambers of Commerce, who leads this partnership, says: “The key to the service being provided by the Adviceline is early intervention. Many business owners and management will have concerns about employees’ health but are unaware of where to turn to get advice. 

 

“The problems arise when stress goes undiagnosed and is left to fester. In such scenarios, the length of lay off is much longer and the cost of treatment - as well as the cost to the business in terms of absenteeism - is that much greater. The Adviceline is here to tackle stress early on in the cycle.”

 

Over the coming eighteen months the Chambers will promote a package of information and organise a series of events for its members, focusing on the business benefits of  occupational health and the support available through the Healthy Working Lives Adviceline and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives.

 

The campaign will communicate the importance of contacting the Adviceline early when specific employees’ health issues arise.  More positively, it will also highlight the benefits of employers proactively engaging in health and wellbeing initiatives to reduce sickness absence at work.

 

Everyone agrees that a healthier workforce is good for business.  Evidence shows that healthier staff are more productive, calmer under pressure and less likely to be absent from work.  In fact, health promotion initiatives can lead to a 34% drop in absenteeism and research suggests that every pound spent on health promotion could save businesses £2.50.  

 

A network of 80 Healthy Working Lives advisers located throughout Scotland are on hand to support businesses with workplace health and wellbeing advising on matters concerning occupational health, health promotion as well as health and safety.  Where appropriate, the Adviceline can arrange one to one visits to offer additional support to employers.

 

Free, confidential support is available from the The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives to help businesses keep their staff healthy – call the Healthy working Lives Adviceline on 0800 019 2211 or see www.healthyworkinglives.com/small-business-advice.aspx