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people have to carry laptop bags or use
laptop trolleys. If you’re doing that a lot,
it puts strain on the back, so we’d also
look at whether there are other, more
body-friendly ways of carrying out your
day-to-day activities.
BI
:
Is the use of smartphones and
tablets producing different types of
problem?
NR:
Yes definitely. And a lot of the
time, problems occur out of work. I
always hear people say ‘my thumbs
really hurt’, which is from texting so
much! People also tell me they hold
their smartphone wedged between
their ear and their shoulder, and they’re
getting neck problems as a result. So yes,
smartphones and tablets are an issue.
BI
:
If a business could change one
thing today to help their employees’
health, what do you think that should
be?
NR:
To listen to your employees and
ask them the problems they’re facing,
because I think a lot of business make
assumptions and don’t always get it right.
It tends to be from senior management;
they’re not doing the groundwork so they
don’t necessarily understand what those
issues are. Have a consultative meeting
with your employees and listen to what
the issues are.
as a benefit. Business is all about the
bottom line; senior management want to
know figures, and I think that’s a really
powerful statistic. If they can make a
return on investment that high, and
that’s a conservative estimate, then it
starts to make business sense.
BI
:
People talk about RSI much less
than they used to – is it still a problem?
NR:
I think it has gone down. In a lot of
cases, RSI came down to the use of the
mouse and the way the workspace was
set up; ergonomic assessments tend to
cover that now. I think health and safety
are on the ball about that one.
But the thing that comes up time and
time again is back pain, rather than RSI –
lower back problems if you’re sitting too
long or lifting and upper back and neck
complaints if you’re at your desk a lot or
driving a lot.
BI
:
How would you treat someone
with back problems?
NR:
It would depend on what the
organisation and individual are open to.
When you come in for massage there’s
an assessment and then the best way to
move forward with treatment is agreed
and carried out.We also offer after-care
advice – stretches or movements to help
with mobility of the spine or to ease
discomfort and pain.We then feed that
into the workstation assessment. A lot of
...continued
connect presents itself in a number of
ways; staying healthy; making sure that
you’re able to work and feel mentally
present.
For employers, it can improve
productivity and overall employee
engagement. Productivity and quality
of engagement tends to go up if people
are happier – you know the old adage
‘a happy, workforce is a productive
workforce’. You see people working
better as a team, they become more
innovative, more creative, and then
customer satisfaction and employee
satisfaction increase.When that all
comes together your bottom line as a
business will go up because everybody is
working together as a team.
It’s not just about receiving a
particular treatment; it’s about having
that time out, having a company that
cares. I think people then go ‘Well okay,
I’m willing to give something back’.
BI
:
Do you think businesses could be
doing more to address the wellbeing
of their employees?
NR:
Definitely. I think they’re doing the
bare minimum. People will do things
like ergonomic assessments, they’ll
offer private healthcare, subsidised gym
membership. But, really, those things are
optional or reactive, so there tends to
be an issue there already if people are
using them. And with the gym, we’ve
all been there, you don’t always go as
often as you should! But now people
are understanding that if they invest
in people and if they do it on-site, it
keeps them in the workplace, they’re not
having to take time off to make doctor
appointments, phone calls, childcare etc..
BI
:
Are health and wellbeing
programmes an affordable option for
small businesses?
NR:
Although this is an investment, a lot
of businesses see it as a financial outlay.
Research flagged up by the Health
WorkWellbeing Executive in a report
by PwC shows that for every £1 spent
on an employee health and wellbeing
programme, £4.17 can be expected back
HEALTH
People tell me
they hold their
smartphone
wedged
between their
ear and their
shoulder, and
they’re getting
neck problems
as a result
