Workforce Welfare

The workplace is an ideal place for the success of
preventative strategies for the improvement of lifestyles

`Move Europe` Campaign Report

Its time that all of us- occupational and health experts, international, national
and local politicians, employers and employees associations, governmental
and non governmental organisations - worked together towards reaching
the common goal: a health and sustainable Europe

`Move Europe` Campaign Report

Three quarters of executives say that stress adversely affects their
health, happiness and home life as well as their performance at work

CIPD Research

If employees are encouraged to protect their health, this will enable
them to deal more effectively with unavoidable stresses at work

CIPD Research

Excessive stress can lead to fatigue, impaired judgement and
decision-making and the onset of both mental and physical health problems

CIPD Research

`The greatest medicine of all is to teach others how not to need it`

Sushruta 2500 BC

Stress and legislation

'If employees are encouraged to protect their health, this will enable them to deal more effectively with unavoidable stresses at work.’

CIPD recommendation

Physiological and/or psychological stress

Stress is cumulative, emotional, physical and/or metabolic. However, the body interprets physiological stress and psychological stress in the same way, so although the symptoms of stress may be the same the causes may be very different.

Food/drink consumption significantly influences adrenal function

Foods that can influence adrenal activities include:

Highly refined foods such as white bread/pasta/rice/biscuits/sweets or anything with added sugars
Hidden sugars included in many cereals, breads, tinned produce and processed/packaged foods
Tropical fruit, dried fruit and fruit juices
Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate and cigarettes all stimulate the release of adrenalin.

By living off stimulants such as coffee and cigarettes, high sugar diets or stress itself, increases the risk of upsetting your thyroid balance. This means your metabolism will slow down and you will gain weight. It may also affect calcium balance (resulting in arthritis) and cause problems with sex-hormone imbalances and excessive cortisol. Any body system that is over-stimulated will eventually under-function.

‘Work life stress’ activates the ‘para’ sympathetic system – the part of the autonomic system which involuntary releases hormones such as adrenals into the system. These levels can be identified using the EIS tool.

Legislation

The Workforce Welfare programme helps companies meet legal obligations and ‘good work practice’. According to the ‘Move Europe’ report (a campaign for the improvement of lifestyle related Workplace Health Promotion in Europe),

‘The workplace is an ideal place for the success of preventive strategies for the improvement of lifestyles’
The workplace has been declared an ‘important field of action for public health activities’
Promotion of health at the workplace is not confined to the business boundaries, as it also produces remarkable effects on the health levels of the families and the communities.

Health & Safety At Work Regulations

Under existing Health & Safety legislation, employers have a duty to undertake risk assessments and manage activities to reduce the incidence of stress at work. Current legislation under the European Framework Directive 89/391 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the health and safety of workers at work covers work related stress and its causes, in addition to other risks to health and safety.

The role of the Health and Safety Executive

The HSE has developed clear guidance on stress management standards. The standards are voluntary but the HSE has indicated that they will be used as evidence against employers that continue to ignore their responsibilities in managing stress under the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. The HSE is currently pursuing proactive preventative strategies. Recommended measures to reduce workplace stress include stress management and relaxation techniques training, and promoting healthy behaviour and exercise

Lifestyle changes and disease prevention

‘At least three quarters of cancers could be avoided by the
adoption of healthier lifestyles’

Macmillan Cancer Relief report

The report adds that cancer is rarely inevitable and is almost always triggered by lifestyle and environmental factors. A European report entitled ‘A campaign for the improvement of lifestyle-related workplace’ has raised awareness of the importance that ‘healthy lifestyles’ such as regular activity and a balanced diet have on the maintenance of a state of psycho-physical equilibrium of each individual.

Although chronic diseases associated with lifestyle behaviours are expected to rise, EU estimates show that if people can remain healthy as they live longer, the increase in healthcare spending due to ageing would be halved. This means that we must all focus our efforts on helping citizens age in good health.